WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to business of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The total costs of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 to business are estimated, over a 50-year period, at #1.5 billion. These future costs are discounted in present values under standard government accounting conventions. The regulations will help to prevent some 4,700 people dying from asbestos-related diseases from future exposure to asbestos in commercial buildings. This is equivalent to total benefits exceeding #3.0 billion. Full details of costs and benefits are contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment available in the Library.

Adviser Discretion Fund

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 316W, on the adviser discretion fund, how many persons have received payments from the fund; how many payments have been made (a) in total and (b) broken down by month; how many persons have received (i) more than one payment, (ii) more than two payments and (iii) more than three payments from the fund; what the value is of payments from the fund, (A) in total and (B) broken down by month; what the average payment from the fund to date is; if he will list the types of goods and services purchased from the funds, indicating how many payments have been used to purchase each type of goods and service; if he will place in the Library a summary of the records referred to in his answer; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The adviser discretion fund was introduced to give personal advisers more flexibility in the help they can offer their New Deal clients. Over 71,200 people have moved into work after receiving help from the fund. We are building on this success by extending access to the fund to people who have been claiming benefits for six months or more.
	Information on the number and value of awards made through the adviser discretion fund since its introduction in July 2001 is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of awards Value of awards (#) 
		
		
			 2001 
			 July 4,331 215,216 
			 August 7,086 399,327 
			 September 8,821 525,822 
			 October 9,594 565,114 
			 November 12,327 787,215 
			 December 7,660 491,621 
			 2002   
			 January 11,524 693,955 
			 February 13,432 783,235 
			 March 19,242 1,226,270 
			 April 15,562 1,254,727 
			 May 21,014 1,528,999 
			 June 15,869 1,094,076 
			 July 16,976 1,145,953 
			 August 17,818 1,377,355 
			 September 18,433 1,196,375 
			 October 15,413 1,444,183 
			 November 8,495 617,192 
			 Total 223,597 15,346,635 
		
	
	The average Adviser Discretion Fund award is #68.63.
	Information on the number of people who have received payments, and the number of times they receive payments, is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An individual can receive more than one award from the adviser discretion fund, but the total value of the awards cannot exceed #300.
	Information on all the goods and services the adviser discretion fund has helped to purchase is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the following table gives information under broad headings on the type of goods and services purchased using the adviser discretion fund by people who have started work after receiving an award from the fund.
	
		
			 Type of goods or services purchased Proportion of the number of awards provided to people who have moved into work (percentage) 
		
		
			 Help with clothes purchase 52 
			 Help with travel fares 20 
			 Help buying tools 6 
			 Help with training/certificates 2 
			 Help overcoming other barriers 20 
		
	
	Source
	Jobcentre Plus
	The latest information on the number of awards made under the adviser discretion fund; their total monetary value; the number of people who have moved into work having received an award; and the type of goods and services purchased by people who have started work after receiving an award from the fund has been placed in the Library.

Departmental PCs

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of the new PCs recently installed in his Department; how the PCs that these computers replaced were disposed of; and what the lifespan of the new machines is.

Ian McCartney: The purchase cost of PCs installed in the Department of Work and Pensions up to 30 November 2002, including the associated software and network costs, is #156.7 million. Installation costs, again up to 30 November 2002, amount to #58.5million.
	The old PCs are being disposed of by the Disposal Services Agency through a company called XRecommit", which redeploys suitable surplus computer equipment back into the community. Some old PCs and dumb terminals are not suitable for redeployment.
	XRecommit" set no hard and fast eligibility criteria and charitable organisations and their clients, usually low income families, can order from them direct. Recent recipients of DWP PCs include Age Concern, the Arthur Rank Centre for Rural Studies, All Nations Christian College, Whizzkids (a children's charity), Woodend Park Community School and Firth Primary School Orkney.
	It is assumed that the PCs will need replacing after five years.

Employers' Liability Premiums

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government last reviewed employers' liability legislation.

Nick Brown: The Government last reviewed employers' liability legislation in 1997.

Fairground Safety

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Showman's Guild regarding fairground safety;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Fairground Licensing Agency, NAFLIC, regarding the registration of surveyors;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding fairground safety since the death of Stacey Rowe in 2000.

Nick Brown: My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Health and Safety Executive regarding fairground safety since the death of Stacey Rowe in 2000. The Secretary of Sate for Work and Pensions assumed responsibility for the Health and Safety commission and the Health and Safety Executive on 24 July 2002. However, meetings were held on 10 and 26 July 2001 between HSE and my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead), the Minister with health and safety responsibilities at the time.
	There have been no discussions between my right hon. Friend and the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain (SGGB), nor the National Association for Leisure Industry Certification (NAFLIC).
	However, discussions between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and members of the SGGB and NAFLIC on fairground safety take place on a regular basis.
	In addition, both trade associations are full members of the Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks Joint Advisory Committee (FJAC), which comprises members of the trade associations and others involved in the fairground industry together with representatives from the Health and Safety Executive. This committee has a number of sub-committees; these are the Technical Working Group, the Amusement Devices Inspection Procedures Working Group (ADIPS) and the Research Working Group.
	The Health and Safety Executive, and the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and the National Association for the Leisure Industry Certification are represented on these working groups, which meet regularly and whose purpose is to maintain and improve standards of safety within the industry as a whole through a formal communication process.

Gas Pipes

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of mains gas pipes Transco agreed to replace by 1 January 2003; and what percentage of this work had been achieved by 1 December.

Nick Brown: This required replacement of mains gas pipes, as part of the medium pressure ductile iron replacement programme, was 0.86 per cent. of the total mains gas pipes by 1 January 2003. As at 1 December, Transco was on target to achieve 1 per cent., thus exceeding their original target. Actual performance is at a level of 116 per cent. against original projections.

Gas Pipes

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the terms were of the agreement between Transco and the Health and Safety Executive for the replacement of metal gas pipes; and if Transco has met the time scale for replacement agreed with the Health and Safety Executive.

Nick Brown: I am informed by the Health and Safety Executive that Transco's mains replacement work is governed by a five-year programme which commenced in January 2001 for iron mains within 30 metres of property. This programme was agreed following discussions with Transco and Ofgem. At the end of this five-year period, Transco should be replacing mains so that the remaining mains within 30 metres of buildings should be replaced within the following 25 years.
	Implementation of this programme is in the very early stages. HSE is carefully monitoring Transco's progress and evidence suggests the company is meeting current targets.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the Regional Directors and Operational Managers in the Health and Safety Executive possess a formal qualification in management.

Nick Brown: The table shows all management qualifications recorded on HSE's Personnel database. Managers in HSE are B4 (HEO equivalent).
	
		
			  SCS G6 G7 SEO HEO  
			  SCS B1 B2 B3 B4 Total 
		
		
			 Educational qualifications  
			 Admin and Info Management — — — 1 — 1 
			 Administration Management — — — 1 — 1 
			 Business Management and Finance — — — — 1 1 
			 Business Management Studies — — — 1 4 5 
			 Health and Safety Management — — 2 8 — 10 
			 Human Resource Management — — — — 2 2 
			 Info and Admin Management — — — — 1 1 
			 Management 1 5 14 12 8 40 
			 Management for the Professions — 1 — — — 1 
			 Management Services — — 1 — — 1 
			 Management Studies 3 2 10 10 7 32 
			 Management Techniques — — — 1 — 1 
			 Personnel Management — — 1 5 2 8 
			 Prof Cert in Management — 1 — — 1 2 
			 Project Management — — 2 2 — 4 
			 Supervisory Management — — — 1 — 2 
			 Total 4 9 30 42 26 111 
			
			 Professional Memberships   
			 British Institution of Management — — — 2 — 2 
			 Inst of Personnel and Development — 1 2 4 10 17 
			 Institute of Admin. Management — — — 1 — 1 
			 Institute of Management — — 4 2 — 6 
			 Institute of Management Services — — — 1 — 1 
			 Institute of Personnel Management — — 2 5 4 11 
			 Institute of Supervisory Management — — — 1 2 3 
			 Total 0 1 8 16 16 41 
		
	
	It is mandatory for all managers in HSE to attend 'essential training for managers'. This includes 12 modules: HSE's Expectations of It's Managers (Mod 1); The Legal and Policy Framework (Mod 2); Performance Management: Appraisal & Development (Mod 3&4); Getting the best from your team (Mod 5); Management Communication Part 1&2 (Mod 6&7); Selecting staff (Mod 8); Managing resources (Mod 10); Developing your Management style (Mod 11); The Appraisal Managers role (Mod 12).

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether above standard hours of working have been ended in HSE at each grade.

Nick Brown: The only data available to answer this question are found in the staff survey. As the title of the survey suggests, it is based on the opinions of staff rather than objectively recorded data. The 2002 staff survey showed that there were still staff at all grades working above their conditioned hours. There was however a small reduction of 2.6 per cent. in those working between five and eight hours compared with 2001.

Housing Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands region and (c) the London region claimed housing benefit in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table:
	
		Housing Benefit recipients as a percentage of the population in Birmingham, West Midlands and London—May 2001
		
			 Area HB recipients as percentage of the population 
		
		
			 Birmingham City Council area 12.1 
			 West Midlands Government Office Region 8.4 
			 London Government Office Region 10.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single
	person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one
	property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	2. The percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.
	3. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	4. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	5. Figures are based on the estimated mid-2001 population aged 16 and over.
	Sources:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly
	100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 2001.
	Office for National Statistics population estimates unit: estimated resident population
	mid-2001 based on the 2001 Census.

New Deal (Disabled People)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people were found jobs through the New Deal for Disabled People in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the west midlands; how many of these people are still in employment; and what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the service.

Nick Brown: New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is the first national programme designed specifically to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into and keep jobs. A comprehensive programme of evaluation is in place to assess its effectiveness.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		People helped into work through NDDP since the national extension of the programme began
		
			 Period People finding work 
		
		
			 July 2001-March 2002 2,304 
			 April 2002-September 2002 3,795 
			 Total 6,099 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is not available broken down by government office region.
	2. The information in the table is for Great Britain. The Northern Ireland Office is responsible for employment programmes within Northern Ireland.
	It is not possible to give figures for the number of people who have found work through NDDP who are still in employment. However, of all NDDP clients who have found work to date, 1,400 have achieved sustained employment—defined as remaining in paid work for 26 weeks out of a 39 week period.

ONE Programme

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of lone parents participating in the ONE programme have obtained employment; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 9 December 2002
	Under ONE, all people claiming working age benefits are now required to have a work-focused meeting with a personal adviser. All ONE pilot sites are due to become integrated Jobcentre Plus offices by spring 2003.
	From June 1999 to October 2002, 78,028 lone parents participated in the ONE pilots. Of these, 3,282–4.2 per cent.-have so far obtained employment.
	We are using the information gained from the ONE pilots and applying the valuable lessons learnt in the development of our Jobcentre Plus service.

Pensions

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were unemployed in Copeland in (a) May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available; what proposals he has to reduce that number; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 16 December 2002
	Economic stability and active labour market programmes have helped people move from welfare to work in all parts of the country. As a result of our policies the number of people in work is at record levels and unemployment has fallen to levels not seen since the 1970s.
	In my right hon. Friend's constituency, between May 1997 and October 2002 the number of people unemployed and claiming benefit fell from 2,784 to 1,382 (a reduction of 50 per cent.) and long term unemployment has fallen by 75 per cent. Over the same period the New Deal has helped over 1,800 people in Copeland into jobs.
	We know that even within areas of prosperity there are pockets of persistent unemployment. That is why we have introduced additional measures—such as Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones—targeted on the most employment-deprived wards in the country.

Pneumoconiosis

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many men have been awarded incapacity benefit and have successfully claimed payments due to pneumoconiosis since 1962;
	(2)  how many men have been awarded incapacity benefit and have successfully claimed payments due to pneumoconiosis since 1992.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of men receiving incapacity benefit who also receive industrial injuries disablement benefit due to pneumoconiosis is only available from 1 October 1997. We estimate that during the period 1 October 1997 to 31 March 2002 around 100 men who were awarded incapacity benefit with a diagnosis of pneumoconiosis also successfully claimed industrial injuries disablement benefit on the same grounds, and that a further 400 men with other medical conditions who were awarded incapacity benefit successfully claimed industrial injuries disablement benefit on the grounds of pneumoconiosis 1 . These figures are based on a small sample of cases and should be taken only as a general indication of the position.
	1 Source: merges between 5 per cent. samples of the incapacity benefit computer system and 100 per cent. samples of the industrial injuries disablement benefit computer system.
	Incapacity benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit on 13 April 1995. Figures for sickness benefit and invalidity benefit awards by diagnosis are not available prior to 1971–72. The available information is in the table.
	
		Sickness/invalidity/incapacity benefit awards, due to pneumoconiosis and related diseases, for men in the periods shown
		
			 Thousand Number of awards 
		
		
			 1971–72 4 
			 1972–73 4 
			 1973–74 4 
			 1974–75 5 
			 1975–76 n/a 
			 1976–77 3 
			 1977–78 3 
			 1978–79 (1)2 
			 1979–80 (1)2 
			 1980–81 (1)1 
			 1981–82 (1)1 
			 1982–83 (1)1 
			 1983–84 to 1994–95 (2)— 
			 1995–96 (1)0.1 
			 1996–97 (1)0.1 
			 1997–98 (1)0.1 
			 1998–99 (1)0.1 
			 1999–2000 (1)0.1 
			 2000–01 (1)0.1 
			 2001–02 (1)0.1 
		
	
	(1) Figures are based on very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error. They should be used as a rough guide to the situation only.
	(2) From 1983–84 to 1994–95 figures are either nil or negligible.
	Notes
	1. Figures from 1971–72 to 1994–95 are rounded to the nearest thousand. Figures from 1995–96 are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures for 1975–76 are not available.
	3. Figures include cases where the person receives national insurance credits only.
	4. If a person has more than one medical condition only the primary diagnosis is recorded.
	5. Figures are for Great Britain but include a small number of cases where the claimant is resident overseas.
	Sources
	Up to 1974–75 based on 2.5 per cent. sample of cases.
	From 1976–77 to 1977–78 based on 2 per cent. sample of cases.
	From 1978–79 to 1994–95 based on 1 per cent. samples of cases.
	From 1995–96 5 per cent. samples of the benefit computer system, which excludes a small number of IB cases that are handled clerically.

Poverty (Definition)

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of poverty will be used to measure success in the joint Public Service Agreement with the Treasury on reducing child poverty by a quarter by 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: The Public Service Agreement target technical note contains full details of how the target will be monitored. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Workplace Health and Safety

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what projections he has made of likely trends in the number of (a) work-related accidents and (b) work-related diseases in the next three years.

Nick Brown: The Health and Safety Executive has made no projections on the overall levels of work-related accidents and diseases. The Government and the Health and Safety Commission have committed to delivering its Public Service Agreement targets on health and safety and will do this by working with other organizations, particularly on its priorities in construction, agriculture, the health services and to tackle musculoskeletal disorders, stress, falls from height, workplace transport and slips and trips.

ENVIRONMENT

Agri-environmental Schemes

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of an entry-level agri-environment scheme; and what consultation there has been on the proposed scheme.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 18 December 2002
	Work is currently in progress to develop a pilot entry-level scheme which will be used to test the concept in four areas of the country, each with a different range of farming systems. Subject to the success of this pilot, the Government plans to make an entry-level scheme available to farmers across England from 2005.
	The development of this pilot scheme was informed by the responses to a consultation exercise run as part of a wider review of agri-environment schemes, to which over 130 responses were received from a wide range of organisations and interested individuals. A working group with membership drawn from a variety of environmental and agricultural organisations has also been closely involved in developing the pilot scheme.
	In the past few weeks, the first draft of the pilot scheme has been subject to a pre-pilot exercise. Through the working group members, over 100 farmers have been asked for their views on this draft. The responses are currently being analysed and will be used to revise the scheme before it is launched next spring.
	The pilots themselves will also be closely monitored, and the results used to inform the design of the main scheme.

Agricultural Co-operatives

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural co-operatives are registered in England and Wales representing (a) arable farms and (b) livestock farms; and how many members of those co-operatives there are.

Elliot Morley: The information on agricultural co-operatives is not available from the June Census. Defra have plans to run a pilot in 2003 to test the possibility of collecting fuller information on how holdings are linked and working together.

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to which bodies her Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 607W.

CHP Plant

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about the contribution of CHP to Britain's future energy needs;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with interested parties about extending the Energy Efficiency Commitment to offer further support to CHP.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on a wide range of matters that affect the business of both their Departments. CHP is among the energy issues that have been discussed at those meetings. We are considering the future of the Energy Efficiency Commitment after 2004 and, subject to the outcome of the Energy White Paper, intend to consult on our proposals next year.

Climate Change

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of farming on the Government's climate change strategy.

Michael Meacher: The UK's climate change programme sets out the policies and measures in each sector of the economy that the Government have put in place or have planned to meet and move beyond its Kyoto Protocol target. On current projections, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture—mainly methane from enteric fermentation in livestock and nitrous oxide from agricultural soils—will be an estimated 14 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. This is mainly due to reductions in cattle numbers from yield improvements, and reductions in synthetic fertiliser usage—although, because emissions in other sectors are also falling, agriculture's share of total UK emissions is expected to remain at the present level of around 7.5 per cent.
	Action that the UK Government and the devolved Administrations are taking to reduce emissions from agriculture includes encouragement of biomass including renewable energy crops, application of the climate change levy to agricultural businesses (with some discounts for energy intensive horticultural businesses), agri-environment schemes and set-aside.

Climate Change Levy

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of (a) information supplied to her by sector associations party to climate change levy umbrella agreements under part 2 of schedule 3 of those agreements and (b) other information held by her relating to the reasons for sector or facility targets not being met.

Michael Meacher: Information which is supplied under part 2 of schedule 3 to the umbrella agreements will relate to production and energy data for individual industrial sites or groups of sites The Secretary of State is intending to consult with sector associations about whether they have objections to its disclosure and if so to justify their objections. Officials are currently considering the responses to a consultation exercise on the proposed implementation of the Aarhus Convention and a draft EC Directive on Access to Environmental Information—the proposals included machinery for reviewing decisions taken by public authorities when handling requests for environmental information.

Departmental Logo

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was to the Department of the introduction of the new logo.

Alun Michael: The cost of designing the new Defra logo was #24,000. The logo is only one element of the total corporate identity, and further costs have been incurred in introducing it across the Department.
	To date, these costs including the above amount total #137,510. This includes costs for project scoping, stimulus material, research, brand architecture, specifications, legal checks and briefing material which are necessary in developing and introducing a fresh identity to a large, new Government Department. On-going costs will be minimised by a phased implementation, only replacing any branded communication material when it runs out.
	The re-branding exercise is necessary to establish a new identity, which will assist in explaining the role and purpose of the new Department among staff, stakeholders, other partners and the public.
	Further implementation costs will be incurred in due course as guidelines are developed and used by external suppliers, other organisations and staff. The new guidelines will show how the new identity should be applied to all communication items such as letterheads, the website, publications and reports etc.
	The findings of extensive research with staff, stakeholders and the public has helped Defra develop a better understanding of what our customers expect from us. This will enable us to streamline our communications and improve clarity. The final design proved popular with all groups. It will play a key role in building the new Department. As a symbol it is modern, professional and forward looking and provides a pivotal point for helping us to build a new customer focus internally.

Energy Efficiency

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of information supplied to her indicating that the proportional improvements in energy efficiency required by Climate Change Levy agreements have been maintained.

Michael Meacher: The information supplied to the Secretary of State indicating that the proportional improvements to energy efficiency have been maintained is in the form of corrected energy consumption and production data for the baseline period. Targets are recalculated on the corrected baseline using the same principles on which the original targets were calculated. The Secretary of State is intending to consult with the sector associations about whether they have objections to its disclosure and if so to justify their objections.

Energy Efficiency

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has on improving energy efficiency; and how she intends to achieve these targets.

Elliot Morley: The UK's Climate Change Programme details the policies and action we are taking to meet our target under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12, and move towards our domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. Energy efficiency measures are an integral means of meeting these targets, several of which have their own targets as follows.
	The Fuel Poverty Strategy has a PSA target to reach 600,000 low income householders between 2001 and 2004. There are various measures in place that will help deliver this including the Warm Front Scheme and the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). The EEC's will result in a reduction in carbon emissions of an estimated 400,000 tonnes a year by 2005.
	Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has a 2010 target of at least 10,000 megawatts of installed Good Quality CHP capacity. Government consulted on a draft CHP Strategy to 2010 earlier this year setting out the measures thought sufficient for the target to be met.
	All Government Departments have an interim target to contribute to the target of a 1 per cent. per annum on-going reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Government Estate buildings. Longer-term targets on energy efficiency are due to be set as part of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate, the first parts of which were published in July 2002.
	Decisions about future targets and policies to improve energy efficiency will be considered as part of the Energy White Paper process, which the Government aims to publish in the new year.

EU Sugar and Dairy Regimes

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on reform of the EU (a) sugar and (b) dairy regimes.

Elliot Morley: The Government strongly supports reform of the CAP sugar regime, particularly in view of the increasing access for developing countries already agreed as part of the Everything But Arms initiative. The Council of Ministers is committed to a further review of the regime next year and we will be pressing for early decisions to allow for orderly adaptation to these more liberal trading arrangements, which will make the regime unsustainable in its present form. We also want the future regime to take account of the wider CAP Mid Term Review process on which negotiations are currently taking place.
	With regard to the dairy regime, there have already been some moves towards reform under Agenda 2000—a 15 per cent. cut in support prices phased in from 2005 to 2007, with direct aid as compensation. However, this still leaves dairy support prices well above world levels, distorting both internal and external markets, and resulting in a continuing need for milk quotas (a financial burden to producers which rigidifies farming structures and the market) to contain budgetary expenditure.
	The UK and other like-minded member states managed to secure a mid-term review of the milk quota system as part of the Agenda 2000 Agreement, under which Commission was charged with writing a report 'with a view to letting the current quota arrangements run out after 2006'. One of the four options in the report, which the Commission published in July, is for quota abolition in 2008.
	We are now calling upon the Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal based on this option, which is the only one to fully meet thecommitments set out in the Agenda 2000 Agreement. In order to bring support prices closer to world levels, in preparation for quota abolition, we would favour bringing the Agenda 2000 price cuts forward to 2004, deepening them, and phasing them over four years, to 2007–08.

European Markets

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when there will be full and immediate access to European markets for exports from the least developed countries through the Everything But Arms Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Least Developed Countries already have full duty and quota-free access to European markets for all goods except sugar, rice and bananas under the Everything But Arms Agreement. Duty and quota-free access for these three products is being phased in by 2006 in the case of bananas, and 2008–09 in the cases of sugar and rice.

Farm Products Levy

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is towards reintroduction of a levy scheme on agricultural farm products on a (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary basis.

Elliot Morley: The Government have no current plans to introduce new levies on agricultural farm products. However, the Government are preparing proposals for an animal disease levy as part of its consideration of how to achieve the right balance between partners in animal health as to how the costs are met.

CAP

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annual cost of the common agricultural policy was to (a) consumers and (b) taxpayers in the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available; what estimate she has made of the cost per person per week; and if she will break down the total cost to consumers by product.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 December 2002
	The consumer cost of the CAP can be estimated by considering the difference between UK prices and world prices on agricultural food products purchased by consumers. In 2000, the latest year for which UK figures are available, we estimate that the CAP cost UK consumers around #3.5 billion through higher prices. In the same year the UK taxpayer contribution to the CAP was approximately #3 billion.
	The UK population in 2000 was 59.8 million, implying that the average cost of the CAP of #6.5 billion in total equates to just over #2 per person per week, or #8 to #9 pounds a week for a notional family of four.
	The following table shows an approximate breakdown of consumer support between agricultural commodities. These estimates have, in the main, been compiled using the methodology utilised by the OECD to produce their estimates of the consumer support estimate. It should be noted that the aggregate estimates will be more robust than estimates for the individual commodities. It is particularly difficult to determine the appropriate gap between UK and world prices for products whose specification varies, such as fruit and vegetables, or pigs, eggs and poultry. Although there is no significant internal regime governing the production of pigs, eggs and poultry, the EU has import tariffs in place, leading to increased costs for consumers.
	
		Breakdown of consumer support between agricultural commodities
		
			 Commodity Cost (# million) 
		
		
			 Cereals 50 
			 Sugar beet 300 
			 Milk 980 
			 Beef and veal 580 
			 Sheep 90 
			 Pigs, eggs and poultry 920 
			 Fruit and vegetables 430 
			 Others 150 
			 Total 3,500

CAP

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers received total payment from the common agricultural policy of less than #500 in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: In the 12 months ending June 2002, 20,000 claimants received less than #500 each in total direct grants and subsidies under the common agricultural policy in England. The payment of direct grants and subsidies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was the responsibility of the devolved Authorities in that period. In addition, 35,000 claimants throughout the UK each received payments of less than #500 in total as part of the market support measures of the CAP, for which traders as well as farmers are eligible. The figures exclude any compensation received for animals slaughtered during the FMD crisis for reasons of disease control or animal health. We are unable to identify the total payments received by any individual or business making applications using more than one name.

Fisheries

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences were granted for bass fisheries in south west waters in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and how many have been granted for 2003.

Elliot Morley: Separate licences are not issued for bass. It may be caught and landed by any fishing vessel with a Category A, B or C licence, subject to compliance with the catch restrictions set out in the licence. There are some 1,200 vessels with such licences currently based in the south west.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) the total number of days at sea and (b) the total kilowatts of engine power was for vessels over 10 metres in length targeting (i) cod, haddock and whiting, (ii) plaice and sole, (iii) hake, (iv) megrim and anglerfish and (v) sand eel and Norway pout in (A) North Sea, (B) West Scotland (C) Irish Sea and (D) ICES sub-area VII in (1) 1998, (2) 1999 and (3) 2000.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is not readily available and can only be produced through the compilation of data held separately on computer systems operated by UK fisheries departments. As such an answer at the current time could be obtained only at inappropriate cost and effort. However, a separate larger exercise is currently being carried out to combine these sets of information, which will allow an answer to be provided by mid-January 2003.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will invite the Fishermen's Association Ltd. to participate in future discussions on fisheries.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission proposed that, under the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy, new Regional Advisory Councils will set up to advise on fisheries issues. It is too early to say who will be represented on these bodies.

Flooding

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she (a) has taken and (b) will be taking to prevent flooding in the Hatch End area of the Harrow, West constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides funding to operating authorities for flood and coastal defence capital works that meet technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. However responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities, in this case the Environment Agency.
	I understand the Agency has completed a review of the original study for the Hatch End area and plans to carry out a flood alleviation scheme starting in 2004 subject to planning permission and land agreements being secured. The Agency has yet to submit an application for funding to Defra.

Flooding

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance she will give to the Environment Agency in the event of large-scale floods.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England. Operational responsibility for flooding from main rivers and the sea rests with the Environment Agency. The Agency is also responsible for flood warning arrangements and exercises a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence.
	The Environment Agency takes the lead in the case of large scale flooding and manages the response in conjunction with local authorities and the police. Should a request be made for additional funding, this would be considered in the light of the circumstances pertaining and a decision made accordingly.
	Following the Autumn 2000 floods, additional funding was given to the Agency.

Food Imports

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the (a) volume and (b) value of processed food imported from developing countries into the UK in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The table shows the UK imports of (i) lightly processed foods (goods that retain their raw recognisable form, such as meat, cheese and butter, powdered milk, flour, sugar etc.) and (ii) highly processed foods (goods such as confectionery, canned meats, jams, alcoholic drinks, ice cream etc.) from developing countries for the years 1999–2001.
	
		UK imports of processed foods from developing countries(3) 1999–2001
		
			  1999  2000  2001  
			 Degree of processing/country of despatch 000 tonnes # million 000 tonnes # million 000 tonnes # million 
			 Lightly processed  
		
		
			 Brazil 788 142 820 188 1,068 252 
			 Argentina 703 54 433 48 337 41 
			 Mauritius 473 176 373 138 511 198 
			 Malaysia 312 61 400 65 440 73 
			 Indonesia 238 92 241 95 260 93 
			 India 165 164 228 178 244 181 
			 Fiji 188 64 205 65 155 51 
			 Guyana 199 66 176 55 166 52 
			 Papua New Guinea 154 57 185 47 196 38 
			 Pakistan 169 34 147 30 156 40 
			 Others 1,704 1,031 1,649 1,041 1,701 1,103 
			 Total 5,094 1,941 4,859 1,950 5,234 2,121 
			
			 Highly processed   
			 Chile 55 83 63 91 79 109 
			 South Africa 55 67 60 79 79 102 
			 Brazil 66 89 60 83 67 96 
			 Peru 52 17 70 21 55 19 
			 Thailand 25 40 30 54 36 66 
			 China 29 19 24 20 23 23 
			 Argentina 28 33 29 36 19 33 
			 Czech Republic 23 12 25 15 26 20 
			 Bulgaria 22 20 14 11 14 11 
			 Poland 6 13 12 24 25 35 
			 Others 76 96 97 99 96 108 
			 Total 438 490 484 533 519 622 
			 Grand total 5,532 2,431 5,343 2,483 5,753 2,743 
		
	
	(c) Crown Copyright
	(3) List of developing countries obtained from World bank website.
	Note:
	The data includes an estimate of below threshold data, but excludes an estimate for non-response.
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA.

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Minister in her Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often she has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the Defra rural proofing check-list in her Department.

Michael Meacher: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for rural affairs and urban quality of life represents Defra on the Ministers' committee ENV(G), which I chair. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, is not a member of ENV(G).
	Policy responsibility for rural proofing lies in Defra with Rural Economies and
	Communities Directorate.

Illegal Meat Imports

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional measures she has installed at United Kingdom ports of entry to prevent the illegal importation of illegal meat products since January 2000.

Elliot Morley: Extra funding this financial year has been used for additional enforcement officers to perform checks on imports at a number of ports and airports. We have increased the number of targeted checks carried out this year, especially to provide additional information to assist the disease risk assessment.
	Legislation was amended in May 2002 to provide enforcement officers with additional search powers, and written guidance was provided to them on the use of these powers, especially with regard to checks for illegal meat imports in passenger baggage.
	Enforcement officers have improved access to intelligence to aid them in deploying anti-smuggling measures. Notably they receive monthly reports of products seized and notified to Defra. This is then entered on the central computer database which was established in April 2001.
	We are carrying out a six-month pilot using detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers and the back up services we need to support the dog teams.
	Trials of x-ray equipment to detect illicit material hidden in commercial freight are taking place at two major seaports.
	Public awareness is being increased through penalty posters and information leaflets at airports and seaports. New information on personal import allowances was issued in May 2001, and then refreshed in February 2002. This is being updated to highlight changes on personal import allowances which come into effect on 1 January 2003 as a result of UK pressure on the European Commission to tighten the rules.

Illegal Meat Imports

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many successful prosecutions were instituted in the United Kingdom against persons accused of the importation of illegal meat in each year from 1995 to 2001.

Elliot Morley: Figures on prosecutions for the illegal importation of meat are not collected centrally. Responsibility for prosecutions lies with local authorities. We are however aware of one successful prosecution this year, which was brought by Crawley borough council in July. The Corporation of London Port Health Authority issued six cautions in October.

Illegal Meat Imports

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the measures being taken to detect small quantities of meat being imported illegally by tourists and visitors; and how many sniffer dogs are available for this purpose.

Elliot Morley: New European rules on personal imports come in to force on 1 January 2003, from when personal imports of meat, milk and their products will be prohibited for travellers entering the UK from outside the EU and certain European countries. Posters displayed at ports and airports have been revised to reflect the new rules and will be in place by 1 January. These posters form part of our ongoing campaign to educate travellers about the import rules.
	Extra funding this financial year has been used for additional enforcement officers to perform checks on imports at a number of ports and airports. We have increased the number of targeted checks carried out this year, especially on passenger bags.
	A six-month pilot using two detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight is under way. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers and the back up services we need to support the dog teams. Evaluation will take place at the end of the six months, with a view to increasing the number of dogs if they compare favourably to other detection methods. Decisions on this now also need to be seen in the context of Customs' future responsibility for anti-smuggling measures, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 November.

Illegal Meat Imports

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of dogs in enforcing restrictions on meat imports; and what plans she has to increase this.

Elliot Morley: A six-month pilot using detector dogs to find illegal animal products in passenger baggage and freight is under way. The pilot is proving valuable in determining the attributes and level of training required for both dogs and their handlers, and the back up services we need to support the dog teams. Evaluation will take place at the end of the six months, with a view to increasing the number of dogs if the cost-benefit analysis compares favourably to other detection methods. Decisions on this and the detector dogs will be taken forward as part of the work to transfer anti-smuggling activity to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 November.

Import Controls

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rules exist to ensure that airlines inform passengers of import controls.

Elliot Morley: There are no statutory rules which require airlines to inform passengers of the restrictions on import of meat and other animal products. However, the European Commission Decision on controls on personal imports of animal products requires member states, from 1 January 2003, to ensure that the rules are brought to the attention of travellers by display of information at ports and airports and by making arrangements with international passenger transport operators, which we are doing.

Milk Quotas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Court of Justice ruling relating to non-producing milk quotas on UK milk quota holders.

Elliot Morley: The effect of the Thomsen European Court of Justice judgment is now clear in that it means non-producing quota holders will no longer be able to lease out their milk quota indefinitely, which will mean that they will have to sell it, resume production, or otherwise face its confiscation. We have been discussing with the European Commission how, and to what timescale, we take forward implementation of this new interpretation in the UK and will make an announcement on next steps as soon as possible.

Ministerial Engagements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by her or her predecessor and (b) by Ministers in her Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.

Morecambe Coastal Protection Scheme

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the state of the Morecambe Coastal Protection Scheme.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides funding to local authorities for coast protection capital works that meet technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. However responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the local authorities, in this case Lancaster city council.
	I understand that the proposed works will have a significant effect on the Morecambe Bay special protection area and candidate special area of conservation. For such a scheme to proceed and in the absence of alternative options the council will be obliged to provide compensatory measures in accordance with the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 (as amended). I understand that the council are investigating options for compensatory measures as a matter of urgency, prior to submitting their application for funding to Defra.

Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision is contained in the constitution of the Parrett Catchment Project to remove the Chairman if he does not meet targets.

Elliot Morley: The Parrett Catchment Project is an independent body, the Department has no role in such matters which are for the project board to determine.

Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what notification she has received from the Chairman of the Parrett Catchment Project of his plans to go overseas on business relating to the project in 2003.

Elliot Morley: The Parrett Catchment Project is an independent body, the Secretary of State has received no such notification of any visits and would not expect to do so.

Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bodies similar to the Parrett Catchment Project have been set up in England and Wales.

Elliot Morley: The Parrett Catchment Project is a forum for stakeholders with an interest in flood management and related matters in the area. Various other stakeholders have been set up on either a long term or short term basis in response to flooding problems in other parts of the country. They have a variety of different structures and forms of organisation and it is likely that many have not made themselves known to the Department.

Pigmeat

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the United Kingdom retail pigmeat market was supplied from (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Denmark, (c) the Netherlands and (d) other countries in each year from 1990 to 2001.

Elliot Morley: Information on the proportions of the retail market for pigmeat in the United Kingdom which are supplied from the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands and elsewhere, is not available. However, information is available on the amounts of home production and supplies of pork, and of bacon and ham, in the United Kingdom. These are given in the tables.
	No data is available on the uses to which the supplies of pork and of bacon and ham are subsequently put. These uses may be for retail as meat or for catering or for foodstuffs which require further processing, some of which may subsequently be exported.
	More detailed production and supplies tables may be found on the DEFRA website at http://www.defra.gov.uk
	
		Thousand tonnes product weight
		
			 Table 1 UK Supplies of Pork(4) 
			  1990 1991 1992(5) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998(5) 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Home production 762.4 804.6 810.4 812.8 836.4 791.3 801.2 887.6 931.2 831.2 724.5 610.1 
			  
			 Imported(6) 81.0 75.2 90.6 113.6 115.8 168.7 199.6 177.4 190.3 234.8 273.8 261.2 
			 Of which imported from: 
			 Denmark 42.1 35.7 43.1 47.2 45.4 54.5 70.2 59.9 72.3 77.6 95.1 117.2 
			 Netherlands 7.5 5.0 4.7 20.0 11.0 24.4 29.8 21.6 24.8 53.1 51.7 39.9 
			 Others(7) 31.4 34.5 42.7 46.4 59.5 79.3 99.5 95.8 93.2 104.0 127.0 104.1 
			 
			 Exported(6),(8) 78.3 108.1 133.4 130.6 154.2 188.3 194.9 247.8 292.4 235.1 207.9 39.3 
			 Total new supply(9) 785.1 771.7 767.6 795.8 798.0 771.8 805.9 817.2 829.1 830.9 790.5 832.1 
			  
			 Estimates of proportion of total new supplies (percentage)   
			 United Kingdom 100 104 106 102 105 103 99 109 112 100 92 73 
			 Of which for the UK market(10) 89 90 88 86 85 78 75 78 77 72 65 69 
			 Denmark 6 5 8 6 6 7 9 7 9 9 12 14 
			 Netherlands 1 1 1 3 1 3 4 3 3 6 7 5 
			 Others 4 4 6 6 7 10 12 12 11 13 16 13 
		
	
	(4) Does not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products (eg. canned meat).
	(5) 1992 and 1998 home-fed production figures were collected on a 53-week (14 week 4th quarter) basis but have been adjusted to a 52-week year (13 week 4th Quarter) for comparability.
	(6) All trade figures include an estimate for unrecorded trade.
	(7) Includes meat from finished pigs imported live from the Republic of Ireland.
	(8) Includes estimated dressed carcase weight of live exports of pigs other than pure bred.
	(9) Home-cured production and imports, less exports and stock adjustment
	(10) Production minus exports as a percentage of total new supply. It has been assumed that exports are of UK produced pork although it is known that a small proportion of exports is imported that is cut and packed in the UK and then exported.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded individually and totals will not necessarily agree with the addition of separate figures.
	
		Thousand tonnes product weight
		
			 Table 2 UK supplies of bacon and ham(11) 
			  1990 1991 1992(12) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998(12) 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Home cured production 190.6 192.5 189.4 215.7 232.5 244.6 240.6 238.8 236.3 232.7 208.9 196.7 
			  
			 Imported(13) 259.9 253.8 234.4 238.0 224.4 227.9 261.2 240.1 231.1 230.4 267.9 281.3 
			 Of which imported from 
			 Denmark 116.4 129.6 117.5 125.406 113.6 113.5 106.8 117.3 106.5 96.4 95.7 112.2 
			 Netherlands 112.5 96.4 89.0 84.5 87.6 87.9 130.4 99.8 105.0 113.1 147.6 135.4 
			 Others 31.0 27.8 27.9 28.1 23.2 26.5 24.0 22.9 19.7 20.9 24.6 33.8 
			  
			 Exported(13) 5.0 4.9 5.6 3.2 5.5 5.2 5.3 8.0 8.4 6.2 9.2 7.3 
			 Total New Supply(14) 445.5 441.4 418.2 450.4 451.4 467.3 496.5 470.9 459.1 456.9 467.6 470.7 
			
			 Estimates of proportions of total new supplies   
			 United Kingdom 43 44 45 48 52 52 48 51 51 51 45 42 
			 of which for the UK market(15) 42 43 44 47 50 51 47 49 50 50 43 40 
			 Denmark 26 29 28 28 25 24 22 25 23 21 20 24 
			 Netherlands 25 22 21 19 19 19 26 21 23 25 32 29 
			 Others 7 6 7 6 5 6 5 5 4 5 5 7 
		
	
	(11) Does not include meat offals or trade in preserved or manufactured meat products (eg. canned meat).
	(12) 1992 and 1998 home-fed production figures were collected on a 53-week (14 week 4th quarter) basis but have been adjusted to a 52-week year (13 week 4th quarter) for comparability.
	(13) All trade figures include an estimate for unrecorded trade.
	(14) Home-cured production and imports, less exports and stock adjustment.
	(15) Production minus exports as a percentage of total new supply. It has been assumed that exports are of UK produced bacon and ham although it is known that a small proportion of exports is imported that is cut and packed in the UK and then exported.
	Notes:
	Figures have been rounded individually and totals will not necessarily agree with the addition of separate figures.

Pigmeat

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of total United Kingdom pigmeat sales were sold through supermarkets in each year from 1990 to 2001.

Elliot Morley: The percentages of household expenditure through supermarkets in the United Kingdom on pigmeat since 1994–95 are shown in the table. The percentages are survey estimates and subject to sampling errors. Percentages before 1994–95 are not available. Percentages based on quantities of sales through supermarkets are not available.
	
		
			   Percentage of household expenditure through supermarkets 
			  Pork(16) Bacon and ham(16) Sausages(16),(17) 
		
		
			 1994–95 62 70 65 
			 1995–96 68 75 71 
			 1996–97 67 77 73 
			 1997–98 69 78 73 
			 1998–99 73 80 74 
			 1999–2000 66 77 72 
			 2000–01 70 77 72 
		
	
	(16) Uncooked
	(17) Includes all types of sausages
	Source:
	Family Expenditure Survey, Office for National Statistics

Pigs

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the rate of piglet death in (a) farrowing crates and (b) non-crate systems.

Elliot Morley: We have, for a number of years, funded research directly or indirectly related to the welfare of the sow and her piglets, from farrowing to weaning. A key issue emerging is that changes in farrowing systems to improve sow welfare can lead to an increase in the death rate of the piglets. As a result, we are not yet able unreservedly to recommend free-farrowing systems for widespread commercial adoption.
	Our research, and that of others, continues. Our aim is to reach a position where it is possible to avoid the close-confinement of all sows.

Pollution Targets

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's policies that have as one of their objectives helping the UK meet its Kyoto carbon dioxide emissions targets.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The UK's emissions reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce its emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels over the commitment period 2008–12. Carbon dioxide, which is the most important greenhouse gas, is one of the six gases in the basket and although the UK does not have a specific carbon dioxide emissions reduction target under the Protocol, the Government and the devolved administrations have set themselves a domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in the UK's carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010. The policies and measures set out in the UK Climate Change Programme (CCP) therefore focus mainly on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the following policies and measures in the CCP: the domestic greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme; the climate change agreements; the Energy Efficiency Commitment; the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; community heating; and the Government's combined heat and power (CHP) strategy. Other policies and measures in the CCP are the responsibility of the devolved administrations or other government departments including, the Department for Transport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Trade and Industry, Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Forestry Commission.

Rare Animal Breeds

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she takes to ensure that rare breeds of animals do not die out.

Elliot Morley: The Government have made a commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to conserve genetic resources for food and agriculture in the UK. The UK National Co-ordinator for Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) in Defra has responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of NGOs, breed societies, research institutes and Government to ensure that appropriate action is being taken to save breeds at risk and to avoid duplication of effort. Defra is in the process of publishing a UK country report on FAnGR which makes several recommendations on the conservation and utilisation of the UK's breeds at risk, including the creation of a national steering committee to oversee a national action plan for the maintenance of our native breeds. (See Defra website for a copy of the final draft of the report, www.defraweb.science.publications.)

Recycling

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to increase recycling rates from (a) household and (b) business and industry waste.

Michael Meacher: Waste Strategy 2000 set a national target of recycling or composting at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005, 30 per cent. by 2010 and 33 per cent. by 2015. To underpin these targets, we set statutory performance standards for recycling for all local authorities in England. Authorities are required, on average, to double recycling by 2003–04 and triple it by 2005–06.
	However, we do not expect local authorities to do this alone. The Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) spending block, which includes waste management, will be increased by #671 million by 2005–06. An additional #355 million of future PFI credits for waste projects over the same period have also been provided. The National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund of #140 million has distributed funds to a wide variety of schemes aimed at increasing household recycling rates.
	We have taken steps to ensure an increase in the amount of commercial and industrial waste recycled. Base line figures given for 1998–99 placed the rate of recycling for industrial and commercial waste at 37 per cent. This compares with the figure of 9 per cent. for household waste at the same time. In order to encourage businesses to further reduce waste and to put to better use any waste that is produced the Government have set the target to reduce by 2005 the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. of that landfilled in 1998. Producer responsibility is another tool we have to encourage increased reduction, recycling and recovery from producers (and those involved in the distribution and sale of goods)

Recycling

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to develop a market for recycled plastic; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Government established the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote more sustainable waste management by working to create more stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, and through tackling the barriers to increased reuse and recycling.
	WRAP has identified plastics as a priority area in its business plan to 2003–04. WRAP'S priorities in this area include marketing existing recycled plastic products and removing discriminatory standards. One of WRAP'S aims is to achieve a 20,000 tonne increase in the mixed plastics processing for industrial products by 2003–04.
	Another source of investment into markets for recycled plastic is PRN and PERN revenue raised from businesses which are obligated to recover and recycle packaging waste under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended).
	The revenue accredited reprocessors receive for PRNs and PERNs is invested in three principal areas: collection capacity, end use markets and reprocessing capacity. In 2001, just over 10 per cent. of the #70 million PRN and PERN revenue was invested in end use markets. In particular, PRN and PERN revenue for plastic in 2001 was #8,591,128 of which #1,194,532 was spent on developing end use markets and #36,140 has been allocated for future investment.

Recycling

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what schemes exist to recycle (a) Christmas trees and (b) Christmas wrapping paper; what incentives exist to encourage such recycling; and what guidance Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies have been given under the Government sustainability initiatives to recycle such trees and paper.

Michael Meacher: DEFRA does not run schemes or provide specific guidance to Government bodies or others on the recycling of Christmas wrapping paper and Christmas trees. However, I am aware that some local authorities report the number of Christmas trees they recycle to the environmental charity EnCams. Figures for 2002 show that nearly two million trees were recycled by the authorities in England and Wales that reported their performance. We would expect those authorities that carry out collection and recycling of waste paper would recycle Christmas wrapping paper along with the rest of the waste paper they collect.
	While there is no special provision made for the recycling of Christmas wrapping paper and Christmas trees, we have provided significant additional funding to local authorities to increase the proportion of waste that they recycle through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) spending block, which includes waste management services, through Private Finance Initiative funding for waste and through the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund.
	The New Opportunities Fund will also distribute #38.75 million to expand community sector waste reuse, recycling and composting in England and #3.25 million for similar schemes in Wales.

Refuse Collection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been allocated by central Government to promote kerbside collection of refuse in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Meacher: The Government distributes money for refuse collection through the environmental protective and cultural services standard spending assessment (EPCS SSA) which covers a wide range of services including waste. SR2002 announced an increase in EPCS of #671 million by 2005–06. This is on top of the #1.1 billion announced in SR2000.
	The Government do not specify how funds distributed via EPCS SSA should be spent. It is for each local authority to decide how much of its funding it allocates to any particular area. The information requested is therefore not available.

Rural Affairs

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications there have been for the (a) Community Service Fund, (b) fund to refurbish rural sub-post offices, (c) Rural Housing Enablers, (d) Rural Transport Partnership Fund, (e) Parish Transport Fund, (f) Rural Bus Challenge, (g) Leader plus Fund, (h) Extension of Redundant Buildings Grant Scheme, (i) Local Heritage Initiative, (j) fund to help rural communities prepare plans and (k) Community Rail Partnerships in rural areas since the launch of each; how many have been accepted; and what the average amount spent on each bid has been to date.

Alun Michael: The information requested will take a little time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member with the data, together with an explanation of the figures, as soon as the information is available. I will also place a copy of my letter in the House of Commons Library.

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on (a) 21 November, (b) 24 November and (c) 30 November; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks; and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Date Total animals Where consignments were certified Animals rejected at certification Animals rejected at Dover docks Destination 
		
		
			 21 November 2,327 Wales 15 0 France 
			 24 November 1,642 England and Wales 25 0 France 
			 24 November 417 Wales 0 0 Germany 
			 30 November 2,471 England and Wales 169 0 France 
		
	
	The sheep for the consignments listed above were certified within 48 hours prior to export. These consignments went to approved slaughterhouses apart from the sailing on 30 November which were fattening animals transported to holdings. The animals which were rejected at certification remained in Great Britain.

Suffolk Punch

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to protect Suffolk Punch from extinction.

Elliot Morley: The conservation management of breeds at risk, especially those that are numerically rare such as the Suffolk Punch, is carried out by non-Governmental organisations such as the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and breed societies. There is no need for Government intervention at the present time because of the ongoing conservation plan.

Suffolk Punch

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Suffolk Punch breeding (a) herds and (b) mares there are in the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: The Defra maintained UK National Database of Farm Animal Genetic Resources shows that the most recent survey of the Suffolk Horse breed (known locally as the Suffolk Punch) was in 1997 when the number of mares stood at 69. It is therefore on the critical list of rare equine breeds maintained by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust who are responsible, with the Suffolk Horse Society, for managing an ongoing conservation plan using frozen semen.

Sustainable Agriculture

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will, in consultation with the Sustainable Development Commission, develop a range of indicators to assess progress towards more sustainable agriculture.

Elliot Morley: On 12 December the Government published the XStrategy for Sustainable Farming and Food: Facing the Future". This was accompanied by XFarming and Food's Contribution to Sustainable Development: Economic and Statistical Analysis" which contains a draft set of indicators for assessing the impact of the strategy. In developing a final set of indicators, Government will consult with a range of stakeholders, and this will include the Sustainable Development Commission. The documents are available in the Library of the House.

Sustainable Produce

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to promote demand for sustainable produce.

Elliot Morley: On 12 December, the Government published XThe Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food: Facing the Future". The strategy sets out how Government will work with the whole of the food chain to secure a sustainable future for our farming and food industries, as viable industries contributing to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities. It includes a number of initiatives relevant to the promotion of demand for sustainable produce, including action on regional and local food: on an entry level agri-environment scheme for farmers; on organic farming; on whole farm regulation; on sustainable public procurement of food; on strengthening, with industry, farm assurance schemes; and on informing consumers and schools about the way that food is produced. The document is available in the Library of the House.

Trade Discharge Consents

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of trade discharge consents was reviewed by the Environment Agency in each region of England in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 December 2002
	The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the Environment Agency to provide the information requested and I will write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Trade Discharge Consents

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget allocation she has made to the Environment Agency in respect of reviewing trade discharge consents in each of the next three years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 December 2002
	No specific budget allocation is made to the Environment Agency to review trade effluent discharge consents to controlled waters. This is one of a range of regulatory activities funded by the Agency's Discharges to Controlled Waters charging scheme.

Trade Discharge Consents

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of technological developments on the adequacy of the Environment Agency's programme of reviews of trade discharge consent to watercourses.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 December 2002
	I have made no formal assessment. As part of their brief, both the Department and the Environment Agency maintain surveillance of technological developments pertinent to effective regulation, as well as sponsoring research and development in areas of need. The information from the surveillance and research and development is in the public domain and is disseminated within the Department and Agency by a variety of methods, according to the focus and potential impact of the technological development.

Warm Front Scheme

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to the Warm Front Scheme administered by Eaga partnership, how many applications have been received; how many are outstanding, awaiting (a) survey, (b) completion of works and (c) 'snagging'; how many are outstanding in total; what has been the (i) average wait for completion of work, (ii) longest wait for completion of work and (iii) longest period someone has been waiting for work yet to be done; what its (A) highest and (B) average cost has been; what criteria are used to decide what equipment should be chosen; for what reason operatives from the North East, Midlands and south coast are employed in London; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Eaga Partnership is the Scheme Manager appointed to administer the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme—now marketed as Warm Front—in three of the four 'lot' areas of England: London and the South East; the North East and North West; and the South West and West Midlands. All answers that follow relate only to the area managed by Eaga Partnership.
	In the last financial year Eaga Partnership Ltd. received over 236,000 eligible referrals. At 29 November 14,538 surveys were outstanding. In addition, 49,768 households were awaiting completion of at least one of their recommended measures.
	Snagging is not a requirement of the contract with Eaga Partnership, however the Scheme does require quality installation checks on all gas central heating systems and a proportion of insulation works. If remedial work is required, following the quality inspection, the installers are contracted to undertake that work within 28 days of being contacted by Eaga Partnership Ltd.
	The waiting time for completion of works can be extended by a number of factors. These include the shortage of central heating installers, awaiting landlord permission, changes to measures specified and the installation of gas to properties. The average waiting time for completion of heating work is 72 working days and for insulation 51 working days from the time of survey. The longest wait for completion of a job was 345 working days. The longest period of work currently awaiting completion is 521 working days. These delays came about through a combination of factors including the skills shortage and the development of equipment to meet the requirements of the scheme.
	The highest cost of an individual job funded by Warm Front is the current grant maximum—#1,500 for Warm Front and #2,500 for Warm Front Plus. The average grant value in 2001–02 was #454.
	Warm Front is designed to tackle fuel poverty among those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health—older householders, families with children and the disabled or those with long-term illness. The range of measures offered to a property is determined by the existing standard of the property. We are currently carrying out a review of Warm Front to assess the effectiveness of the Scheme including consideration of the eligibility criteria and measures offered.
	The Scheme Managers have responsibility for appointment of installers to work under the Scheme. To ensure the scheme gets good value for money, appointments are carried out through a competitive tendering process, with companies free to tender for work in any area. Additionally, a number of installation companies work nationally and so carry out work across several different areas.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Westminster Hall

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answers of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 981W, what the (a) capital costs and (b) gross and net annual budgeted running costs have been of the visitor catering facilities off Westminster Hall since December 2000.

Archy Kirkwood: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The investment to construct, equip and furnish the Jubilee Cafeteria off Westminster Hall was #2.14 million including fees and VAT. The project also included the installation of a lift to provide lavatory facilities for visitors to the House and access for people with disabilities to the second chamber in Westminster Hall and to the meeting rooms in Westminster Hall Annexe (the XW" Rooms).
	(b) The Jubilee Visitor Café opened in May 2002. The running costs of the Jubilee Visitor Café are included within the overall operating budget for the House of Commons Refreshment Department. Payroll budgets and some other operating costs are not disaggregated and so are not available for specific services.
	However, in agreeing the Refreshment Department's operating budget for the year April 2002 to March 2003, the Finance and Services Committee endorsed a target for the Jubilee Visitor Café to serve 49,600 customers in its first year of operation. Assuming this level of business, the forecast gross running cost for the year would be #165,600; after a contribution from sales of #124,000, the net running cost would be #41,600.
	Progress will be reported to the Finance and Services Committee.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Green Minister

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Minister in her Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check list in her Department.

Kim Howells: My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Blackstone is Green Minister for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She has attended every meeting of the Green Ministers committee held since her appointment.
	The DCMS official responsible for the DEFRA rural proofing check list is the Head of the Performance and Innovation Unit.

Soccer Academy (Christchurch)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking in response to the representations of the Mixer Soccer Academy in Christchurch about the restrictions on school students from Korea being able to participate in FA youth teams; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Mr. Michael Swift, who runs the Mixer Academy, recently brought FIFA's regulations governing overseas footballers under the age of eighteen to my attention. I have advised him that these are matters for the Football Association and the sport's international governing bodies, and asked him to keep me informed of the progress of his discussions.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Centres of Vocational Education

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of industry support for Centres of Vocational Education.

Ivan Lewis: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) focus on meeting employers' intermediate skills needs. Employer engagement is central to their success.
	An evaluation of the programme is under way and its initial findings will be available next year. However, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is impressed by the level of employer support so far.
	At a strategic level the Sector Skills Development Agency and the newly created Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are providing strong employer leadership on the skills priorities CoVEs should address and on the shape of the final CoVE network. Individual SSCs are advising the LSC on the network of CoVEs they need to meet the skills needs of their sector.
	At an operational level SSCs and local employers are increasingly involved in planning, designing and delivering training provision. CoVEs are reporting greater employer interest and involvement. This is resulting in:
	donations of equipment (one CoVE has received over #1.4 million of state of the art equipment over the last few months in recognition of its new status),
	increased demand for level 3 provision places (the Further Education Pathfinder CoVEs have seen increases of between 5 per cent. to 100 per cent. over the last year),
	increased demand for courses offered by CoVEs (nine of the first 16 Further Education Pathfinder CoVEs have seen increases of between 3 per cent. to 20 per cent. over the last year),
	increased demand for short customised provision for which employers meet the full cost, and more effective use of labour market information and employer partnership in planning, developing and delivering CoVEs

Construction Industry (Levy)

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last met representatives of the plant hire industry to discuss the Construction Industry Training Board's training levy; and when the working of the training levy was last reviewed.

Ivan Lewis: I have not had any meetings with representatives of the plant hire industry but one of my officials met John Coyne, Managing Director of the Hire Association Europe, on 27 November 2002.
	The levy rates imposed by the Construction Industry Training Board are reviewed annually in consultation with the industry and are subject to parliamentary approval. The definition of the industry to which the levy applies is reviewed if proposals for a change are made by the industry. The last review took place in 1992.

Construction Industry (Levy)

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he intends to take as a result of the judgment in Gibbon Equipment Hire and the Construction Industry Training Board.

Ivan Lewis: The judgment by Mr. Justice Keith concluded that the definition of Xcontractor's plant" in the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment Order) 1992 was clear, unequivocal and unambiguous. Also that Gibbon Equipment Hire was an employer in the construction industry and therefore required to pay the CITB levy.
	However I have agreed to consider whether the hiring out of plant and equipment should continue to be included in the definition of the construction industry and am awaiting proposals from the hire service sector.

Further Education Colleges

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 to 16-year-olds spent one day per week or more at a further education college in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; how many will do so in 2003–04; and what research has been carried out to ascertain these figures.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 19 December 2002
	In the academic year 2001–02 there were 5,500 students with academic ages 14 or 15, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, attending FE colleges part time. (Students with academic ages 14 and 15 have actual ages between 14 and 16.) Data on the number of local education authority funded 14 to 16-year-olds in FE colleges is not collected centrally.
	From September 2002, the Increased Flexibilities Programme enables schools, in partnerships with FE colleges, to offer pupils the opportunity of vocational learning through new GCSEs and part time placements in colleges. About 30,000 14 to 16-year-olds are participating in this programme for academic year 2002–03, the majority of whom will be spending some time in an FE college,
	Money to fund a similar cohort is being made available for 2003–04 and 2004–05 as part of Success for All.
	As part of the planned evaluation of the Increased Flexibilities Programme a baseline data collection exercise has been undertaken to ascertain the numbers of 14 to 16-year-olds on the programme, and the proportion of them spending time in FE colleges. Data on numbers of young people on the programme for 2002–03 will be available in February 2003.

Individual Learning Accounts

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on outstanding Individual Learning Accounts, with special reference to (a) the sums cleared for payment, (b) the sums still in dispute on each investigation, (c) the number of providers still unpaid and (d) the number of fraud investigations under way or concluded.

Ivan Lewis: Since closure of the Individual Learning Account programme on 23 November 2001 to 31 November 2002, #11.5 million has been paid to 3,407 registered learning providers. A total of 698 providers have been subject to review, of these claims totalling #15.7 million have been withheld from 253 registered learning providers. Following completion of preliminary reviews, we are discussing repayment of #97 million of potentially irregular payments with 623 providers. The individual provider figures are not quoted as these are commercial in confidence.
	The Department's Special Investigations Unit has been asked to investigate 153 learning provider organisations. Of the 153, the police are investigating 100 learning providers. To date, there have been 60 arrests, which have resulted in 10 people accepting cautions and charges being brought against 14 individuals. Charges have since been dropped against two individuals investigated by the National Crime Squad because of the small amounts of money involved. 11 others are awaiting court appearances. One person has been convicted. The precise extent of fraudulent activity will not be known until all investigations are complete.

Online Centres

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many hours per week each UK online centre is used for community use; and if he will list each UK online project in Luton, South.

Charles Clarke: The DfES does not specifically collect such information, however findings from recent evaluation on UK online centres funded by the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) stated: There is a strong community based feel to most centres.
	A large proportion of centres are based within target communities such as those in the 2,000 most deprived local authority wards; rural areas with significant transport and deprivation problems.
	A table showing all UK online centres in the Luton, South constituency follows.
	
		
			 Centre name Address 1 Address 2 Town Postcode 
		
		
			 The Luton Health and Training Centre 179a-b Dunstable Road  Luton LU1 1BT 
			 The Dale ICT Centre 127 Dunstable Road  Luton LU1 1BW 
			 Luton Foyer 63 Inkerman Street  Luton LU1 1JD 
			 Outset Ltd. Telemax House 15 New Bedford Road Luton LU1 1SA 
			 Luton Lives 28a Chapel Street  Luton LU1 2SE 
			 Barnfield College—Rotherharn Avenue Site Rotherharn Avenue  Luton LU1 5PP 
			 Barnfield College—Charles Street Charles Street  Luton LU2 OEB 
			 CYCD ICT Centre 94–106 Leagrave Road  Luton LU4 8HT 
			 KHIDMAT ICT Centre 47a Leagrave Road  Luton LU4 8HT

Online Centres

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK online centres there are; how many hours on average they are used per week; and if he will list the location of each centre.

Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister officially announced the achievement of 6,000 UK online centres open across England on 19 November 2002, six weeks ahead of schedule.
	Due to the diversity of centres an average of hours they are used per week is not applicable. UK online centres range from voluntary and community centres (including mobile centres) to, libraries, colleges and high street cyber-cafés some can be in a church or post office.
	The DfES website includes information on all UK online centres, individuals can find their nearest centre at www.dfes.gov.uk/ukonlinecentres or call free on 0800 77 1234.

Online Centres

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the (a) number of participants, (b) numbers receiving qualifications at each level, (c) socio-economic status of each participant and (d) cost per participant of DfES-funded UK online courses.

Charles Clarke: The following information is taken from the Management Information the DfES collect from centres funded by the CMF which represents 2,840 of the over 6,000 figure. These figures are representative of 1,589 centres which were open for use as at the end of September 2002. I have included a breakdown of stats in my hon. Friend's regional Government Office East (GOE) along with national stats for each question.
	(a) Number of Participants
	The number of users recorded nationally at CMF funded UK online centres between July and September 2002 was 115,250.
	The number of users recorded within the same period for GOE was 9,379. This represents 8 per cent. of the national figure.
	(b) Numbers receiving qualifications at each level
	The DfES do not collect information for qualifications at each level; however
	the numbers of users that have gone onto further learning are as follows:
	Nationally a total of 21,916 users of UK online centres have progressed onto further learning.
	GOE represents 8 per cent. of the national figure with 1,790 users going onto further learning.
	(c) Socio-economic status
	UK online centres specifically target those in deprived communities. I have listed the numbers of users that fall in UK online centres target groups.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 National  
			 Basic Skills Needs 18,684 
			 Lone Parents 5,682 
			 Disabled 10,036 
			 Over 65 14,593 
			 Unemployed 22,930 
			 Ethnic Minorities 22,316 
			   
			 GOE  
			 Basic Skills Needs 773 
			 Lone Parents 560 
			 Disabled 748 
			 Over 65 1,430 
			 Unemployed 2,505 
			 Ethnic Minorities 1,210 
		
	
	(d) Cost per participant of DfES-funded UK online courses
	#199 million was made available from the CMF to help fund UK online centres in deprived communities. There are no funded UK online courses that have been developed by the DfES.
	UK online centres offer an introduction to the internet and e-mail, with learner support to help new users. Centres may wish to develop their own learning material to achieve this.

Public Schools

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to amend the charitable status given to public schools; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Strategy Unit report, XPrivate Action, Public Benefit", was published on 25 September 2002. Its 61 recommendations set out a package of measures which aim to modernise charity law and enable a wide range of organisations to be more effective and innovative.
	The report recommends that in future all charities should have to demonstrate public benefit. Part of the report considers what happens now with those charities that charge fees which serve to exclude large sections of the population in terms of their having to make provision for wider access for those who would be excluded because of the fees. The report cites the example of independent schools.
	At present there is no systematic programme in place to check the public character of charities. The report recommends that an on-going review programme run by the Charity Commission should check the public character of such organisations. It is proposed that the Commission would identify charities likely to charge high fees (such as independent schools), and undertake a rolling programme to check that provision was made for wider access. This programme will be designed to minimise red tape and will not focus on any particular sector. Short returns will be issued which ask charities what they do in terms of widening access, such as making provision for sharing facilities. It is envisaged that for the majority of cases no further inquiry will be necessary beyond the initial return.
	It is proposed that the Charity Commission, in consultation with charities likely to be affected and their umbrella bodies, would issue guidelines as to the level of access appropriate in particular circumstances.
	Of course at the moment these are only proposals. The report was out for consultation until 31 December 2002, and we shall consider the responses to this, and all the other matters addressed in the report, very carefully.

Pupil Profiles (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Leeds, West aged (a) 0 to 5, (b) 5 to 11, (c) 11 to 16 and (d) 16 to 18 were diagnosed as having (i) severe learning difficulties and (ii) moderate learning difficulties at the latest date for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally at the moment.
	There is currently no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools Census on the nature of such pupils' disability or learning difficulty. However, in June 2001, the Department carried out a pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schools on a broad range of types of Special Education Needs (SEN). It is likely that schools and local education authorities will be asked to provide this information from January 2004.
	The available information on the total number of pupils with SEN in Leeds, West parliamentary constituency is shown in the table.
	
		Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN)—January 2002—Leeds, West parliamentary constituency
		
			  Under 5 Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 16 and over Total 
		
		
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 
			 Maintained primary schools 15 157 1 0 173 
			 Maintained secondary schools 0 0 190 6 196 
			 Maintained special schools 6 30 134 24 194 
			 Total maintained schools 21 187 325 30 563 
			   
			 SEN pupils without statements 
			 Maintained primary schools 161 1,495 2 0 1,658 
			 Maintained secondary schools 0 0 841 20 861 
			 Maintained special schools 0 0 0 0 — 
			 Total maintained schools 161 1,495 843 20 2,519 
		
	
	Source
	Annual schools census.

Spending Statistics

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by how much (a) central and (b) local government spending will increase, on average, per child in (i) primary and (ii) secondary education in (A) England and (B) Devon in the next three years.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 December 2002
	As a result of our drive to give extra resources to the front line, there will be no increase in central government spending per pupil but a national average increase of over #540 per pupil in our plans for local government spending over the next three years.
	It is not possible to set out now Education Formula Spending Shares (EFSS) for Devon for 2004–05 and 2005–06: they will depend on pupil numbers and indicator data at January 2003 and 2004. However, we have provided local authorities with increases in total Education Formula Spending for 2004–05 and 2005–06, together with forward projections at national level of pupil numbers for those years. We have also said that there will be minimum and maximum increases for authorities as we introduce the new LEA funding system. Indicator data will be averaged over three years to provide further stability and predictability in future Formula Spending Shares. Authorities will be able to use this data—together with local knowledge about pupil numbers and indicators—to form a good estimate of what their EFSS might be in those years. That will in turn allow them to provide schools with indicative budgets for the next three years.
	The balance of spending between primary and secondary education is determined by local decisions made in each LEA, both in respect to local government spending and, for the most part, support from central government.

Statutory Instruments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by his Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three Sessions.

Charles Clarke: The totals are as follows:
	Session commencing 17 November 1999 (a) 164 (b) 3
	Session commencing 6 December 2000 (a) 94 (b) 7
	Session commencing 20 June 2001 (a) 189 (b) 19

TREASURY

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, expenditure incurred on entertainment, decorations and other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government accounting.

Productivity

Matthew Taylor: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish the paper on public services productivity to which paragraph 1.13 of Productivity in the UK: The Evidence and the Government's Approach refers; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The paper will be published shortly.

DEFENCE

Absent without Leave

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been reported absent without leave in each of the last five years.

Lewis Moonie: holding reply 17 December 2002
	The information provided is captured in different ways for each of the three services, therefore the figures given are not directly comparable on a Tri-Service basis. All figures are based on both trained and untrained personnel.
	Naval Service
	The Naval Service figures given are for the period 1 January-31 December for all years with the exception of 2002 where the figures relate to the period 1 January- 16 December.
	Royal Navy 1 
	
		
			 Year Number reported AWOL 
		
		
			 1998 29 
			 1999 34 
			 2000 57 
			 2001 91 
			 2002 108 
		
	
	1 A warrant is issued on the 7th day of absence unless it is known that an individual will be absent before the 7th day, in which case a warrant is issued sooner. Once a warrant is issued the individual is classed as AWOL.
	Royal Marines 2 
	
		
			 Year Number reported AWOL 
		
		
			 1998 4 
			 1999 1 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 4 
			 2002 4 
		
	
	2 The above figures relate only to Royal Marines on land and not those deployed on seagoing duties. They will be recorded in the Royal Navy figures.
	Army 3 , 4 
	
		
			 Financial year Number reported AWOL 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,357 
			 1998–99 1,419 
			 1999–2000 1,673 
			 2000–01 1,834 
			 2001–02 1,567 
		
	
	3 Only one officer was found to be AWOL during the period 1 April 1997–31 March 2002. Subsequently, the above table only shows other ranks.
	4 A person is classed as AWOL if he/she does not report for duty on a particular day. On the 6th day of absence, a signal is sent, if the person has still not reported for duty after 21 days, a Board of Inquiry will meet to investigate the absence. This will report by the 29th day of absence; it will then decide whether to class the person as AWOL. This will then be backdated to start from the first day of absence.
	Royal Air Force 5 , 6 , 7 
	
		
			 Financial year Number reported AWOL 
		
		
			 1997–98 24 
			 1998–99 32 
			 1999–2000 35 
			 2000–01 28 
			 2001–02 20 
		
	
	5 An individual who is reported AWOL on more than one occasion within the same calendar year is counted once in the year they were reported absent.
	6 An individual who reported AWOL in one calendar year and is still absent in the following year is counted in the year they were reported absent.
	7 The table does not address certain specific categories within AWOL. An AWOL person is classed as someone who did not report for duty on a particular day. However, after they have failed to report for duty for 23 days a Board of Inquiry can declare the individual "illegally absent". (There has been only one illegal absentee in each of the financial years and they are included in the above figures). Service personnel do not become deserters until either it is known they are not going to return voluntarily and/or are subsequently arrested and found guilty of desertion at court martial.

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which bodies his Department makes appointments; how many Members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 607–08W.

Armed Forces Leavers

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the Naval Service, (c) the RAF and (d) the Welsh Guards have applied to leave the armed forces in (i) the last three months, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Details of applications for Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) are shown in the tables:
	
		Table 1: PVR Applications as at 1 October 2002
		
			 Date Rank Naval service Army RAF 
		
		
			 Last Officers 47 65 49 
			 3 months O/Ranks 456 1,679 518 
			  
			 2002 to date Officers 143 367 163 
			  O/Ranks 1,470 5,184 1,499 
			  
			 2001 Officers 200 536 242 
			  O/Ranks 1,909 7,833 2,174 
			  
			 2000 Officers 232 564 305 
			  O/Ranks 1,533 7,569 1,957 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Of all the notices given by Naval Service personnel approximately 17 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date
	2. Of all the notices given by Army personnel approximately 30 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date.
	3. Of all the notices given by RAF personnel approximately 20 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date.
	
		Table 2: Welsh Guards Other Ranks—PVR applications
		
			 Year Notice Given 
		
		
			 Last 3 months 25 
			 2002 to date 68 
			 2001 117 
			 2000 114 
		
	
	Note:
	Details of PVR applications for officers in the Welsh Guards are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Catterick Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons constitute the capacity of Catterick Barracks; how many (a) self-inflicted deaths and suicides and (b) other deaths have occurred in each year since 1990; and how many of these incidents were firearms-related.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Chemical and Biological Weapons

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the development of chemical and biological detection technologies to deal with the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons.
	(2)  what recent improvements have been made in capabilities to detect chemical and biological weapons.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence continually researches and develops technologies to improve our ability to detect chemical and biological warfare agents. The principal lead for this work is the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (Dstl), which in turn works closely with a number of industrial partners and overseas governments through international collaboration.
	A range of new chemical detectors will be brought into service in 2003. The Man-portable Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD) and the Lightweight Chemical Agent Detector (LCAD) will replace the existing Nerve Agent Immobilised Enzyme Alarm and Detector (NAIAD). They have been developed to provide the armed forces with a comprehensive warning capability for vapours of chemical warfare agents. A new chemical agent monitor for use in collective protection is also expected to enter service.
	Developments in the detection of biological warfare agents include the vehicle-mounted Integrated Biological Detection System (IBDS) which is due to enter service from November 2003. It will supersede the existing Prototype Biological Detection System (PBDS). Additionally, consideration is being given to fitting HM ships with a new Maritime Biological Detection System (MBDS) from 2007 to supersede the Interim Naval Biological Detection System (INBDS) currently in service.
	Responsibility for the defence of the United Kingdom civil population and infrastructure is vested in the Home Office and the Cabinet Office.

Civil Contingencies Reaction Force

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces to be ready for deployment.

Adam Ingram: Recruiting is now under way for the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces, whose establishment was announced on 31 October 2002. Our aim is that all 14 CCRFs should be available for deployment by the end of 2003, once they are fully recruited and have undergone an annual training cycle.

Civil Servants and Spending

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.
	Information on financial performance in 2001–02 was published in the Ministryof Defence Consolidated Resource Accounts on 21 November 2002 (HC 47). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. A breakdown of resource consumption by local authority area is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Convicted Servicemen

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 20W, how many persons have been permitted to remain or return to service in HM armed forces following conviction for (a) murder, (b) rape or serious sexual assault, (c) serious crimes of violence and (d) drugs-related crime; in each case what rank the offender held at the time of conviction; and how many years elapsed before each subsequent promotion.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Devonport Dockyard

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the nuclear refit complex at Devonport has received its certification for the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 499W. With such large and complex nuclear facilities, there is no requirement for an overall approval. However, safety is paramount and no individual facility will be used without the appropriate regulatory approval.
	Since January 2002, approval has been given for the use of 9 Dock for the refit of HMS Vanguard; 14 Dock for the de-fuel of HMS Valiant; the Low Level Refuelling Facility for the storage of new nuclear fuel; and the rail link for the movement of nuclear fuel within the licensed site.

Dockyard Development (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has claimed back from the developers at the (a) HMS Vernon and (b) Gunwharf sites in Portsmouth since its original sale because of the change in the level of development on the site since its sale was first agreed; when the money was paid, and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: To date the Ministry of Defence has received one payment in August 2002, rising from the clawback provisions in the disposal agreement for the Gunwharf Site (which incorporates the former HMS Vernon) and a further payment is under active discussion between the parties.
	I am withholding the specific amounts in accordance with Exemption 13 (Third Party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Financial Dynamics

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department directed UBS Warburg to hire Financial Dynamics; whether (a) he and (b) officials from his Department met employees of Financial Dynamics in the past two weeks; whether his Department is paying fees to UBS Warburg; and what discussions Sir Robert Walmsley has had during the past two months with senior officials from General Dynamics.

Geoff Hoon: The Government retained the services of UBS Warburg in early December to provide specialist financial advice. Financial Dynamics was retained for a short period as part of this arrangement. Ministry of Defence officials attended two meetings with officials of other Government Departments in December at which Financial Dynamics representatives were present.
	Sir Robert Walmsley's only meetings with senior officials from General Dynamics in the past two months took place on 6 and 7 November during the ceremonies to mark the opening of the company's new facility at Oakdale and the related Bowman radio programme review.

Fire Brigades Strike

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the general readiness of the armed forces for military operations and (b) the seagoing readiness of individual warships of the Royal Navy resulting from the diversion of armed services personnel to train for and provide cover for services withdrawn by the fire brigades.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The provision of emergency fire cover has been carefully balanced with other demands on the services allowing the maintenance of maximum flexibility for contingency tasking and operational deployments, as well as protection of public safety during firefighter's strikes.
	Nevertheless, as I stated in the House on 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 16:
	Xthere must be knock on effect for the training regime, and the longer the strike runs the greater the effect will be. We must constantly review the situation; over time it will create problems for effective delivery and for other missions in which we may be called on to participate".
	Specifically for the Royal Navy, the dispute has led to the removal of frigates from NATO's Standing Force Atlantic and from the South Atlantic. Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels remain deployed in the Caribbean, the Gulf, the Far East, the Mediterranean and the North and South Atlantic.
	While we will be able to maintain a balance between key operational deployments and emergency cover, the longer service personnel are required to provide emergency firefighting cover the greater the penalty to other activities is likely to be.

Future Aircraft Carrier

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of a hybrid solution allowing both vertical and conventional landing aircraft to operate simultaneously in deciding on a platform for the future aircraft carrier.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 17 December 2002
	Such a solution was considered before we announced our decision, on 30 September last year, to proceed with the Adaptable carrier design. There are concerns about the viability and safety of a design configured to operate STOVL and CV aircraft simultaneously. Indications are that such a design would not be able to meet our sortie generation and simultaneous launch and recovery requirements without a significant increase in ship size. This would impact on construction and through life operations, as well as affordability.

Fylingdales and Menwith Hill

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent increases in security there have been at (a) Fylingdales and (b) Menwith Hill in Yorkshire.

Geoff Hoon: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Security at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales is kept under review, and action to improve security is taken as appropriate.

Iraq

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to use the advanced short-range air-to-air missile as part of the UK's commitment to monitor the no-fly zones over Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: The Government are committed to providing our armed forces with the best possible equipment. The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) is carried by RAF Tornado F3 Air Defence aircraft that form part of the United Kingdom's contribution to the international coalition monitoring the No-Fly Zones.

Landing Craft Utility Mk10

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract with BAE Systems for the 10 Landing Craft Utility Mk10 will be completed; what the outturn cost of this contract against the tender price is; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Laser Target Locator Systems

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure laser target locator systems.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is currently in the process of procuring Target Locating Equipment to allow Royal Artillery Forward Observers to be equipped with the same type of laser rangefinder as the Infantry's Mortar Fire Controllers. Target Location Equipment is also being procured as part of enhancements to the Warrior Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle and CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicle fleets.

Logistics Stocks (Gulf)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what logistics stocks are (a) in and (b) in transit to the Gulf region.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 18 December 2002
	The logistic stocks that are currently held in the Gulf are maintained at a level commensurate with current operational commitments, and replenished as necessary to ensure that our armed forces can continue to meet those tasks.

Management Costs

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of Ministry of Defence (a) head office and (b) other management costs in (i) 1997 and (ii) in the last 12 months; and what the difference was expressed in percentage terms.

Lewis Moonie: Taken together, the total cost of the Ministry of Defence head office and the other high-level management costs within the Ministry of Defence in the last financial year (2001–02) has been broadly estimated to be around #0.7 billion, although work is currently in hand to produce a more refined figure. The head office element of this figure (based on personnel costs) is around #140 million. The MOD has a target to achieve a 13 per cent. reduction in the overall head office and other management costs by 31 March 2006.
	Comparative figures for head office and management costs for 1997 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Engagements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by him or his predecessor and (b) by ministers in his Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.

Nimrod and Astute Contracts

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) Sir Robert Walmsley and (b) other Defence Procurement Agency officials have had with BAE Systems relating to monetary amounts connected to resolving issues on the Nimrod and Astute contracts; and whether the Defence Procurement Agency made agreements with BAE Systems concerning the Nimrod and Astute contracts.

Geoff Hoon: As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence indicated in his answer on 10 December 2002, Official Report, columns 222–23W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) officials have been in urgent discussions with BAE SYSTEMS to examine the consequences of the slippage to the first flight of the Nimrod MRA4 and to explore how best to proceed. The present contract has not been amended and no contractual undertaking of any kind has been made by either party as to how to proceed. Officials are also in discussion with BAE Systems on a range of issues concerning the Astute contract.
	No assurances have been given regarding the outcome of these discussions and as yet no agreements have been reached. We are, however, prepared to explore those areas where the scope of the contracts could be varied, where this would offer value for money for the taxpayer and where it would be in the nation's defence interest.
	As a major supplier to MOD, BAE Systems officials have many and regular meetings with Sir Robert Walmsley on a range of projects, including Astute and Nimrod.

Nimrod and Astute Contracts

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Sir Robert Walmsley negotiated with officials of BAE Systems about issues arising from the Nimrod and Astute contracts; and how many meetings Sir Robert Walmsley attended with BAE Systems officials to discuss the Nimrod and Astute contracts in the last two months.

Geoff Hoon: BAE Systems is a major supplier to the Ministry of Defence. Representatives of the company have many and regular meetings with Sir Robert Walmsley on a range of projects, including Astute and Nimrod.

Overseas Postings

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time for notice of new addresses given to service families on posting has been over the last 12 months.

Lewis Moonie: Between December 2001 and November 2002, the average time from registration of an application, to the offer by the Defence Housing Executive of a new address for service family accommodation to take effect on post, was 28 days.

Procurement Projects

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major procurement projects are behind schedule; and what the costs of the over-runs are (a) expressed as a percentage of the original estimated budget and (b) in real terms.

Lewis Moonie: Information as to the time and cost of 30 major defence procurement projects is published annually in the National Audit Office report on the Ministry of Defence's Major Projects Reports (MPR). The latest report, XMPR 2002", was published on 4 December 2002. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Records Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) he and (b) his Ministers and officials have met the British Legion and ex-servicemen and women's organisations to discuss his Department's proposal for a PFI scheme for the Ministry of Defence records service.

Adam Ingram: No Defence Ministers or officials have met the Royal British Legion and ex-servicemen and women's organisations to specifically discuss the Department's plans for the Ministry of Defence record service.
	However, the Minister for Veterans, Dr. Moonie, wrote to the General Secretary of the Royal British Legion on 12 December, to confirm that the relationship between the Department and his organisation will not be affected by this proposed scheme.

Records Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what organisations he has consulted on his Department's proposals for a private finance initiative scheme for the Ministry of Defence records service.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence consulted widely within Government on the proposed scheme. The result of that consultation is a pan-Government scheme which if approved, will include provision of record services to the following Departments or public bodies:
	Court Service
	Public Record Office
	Lord Chancellor's Department
	Department for International Development
	Department for Trade and Industry
	Public Guardianship Office
	Parliamentary Commissioner
	Crown Prosecution Service
	Home Office
	Metropolitan Police Service
	Food Standards Agency
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate
	Energy Watch
	The proposed scheme has no impact on external non-government organisations, who will continue to deal with the Department in accordance with current practice.

Sea Harrier

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Sea Harrier FA2 in providing air supremacy protection for the Harrier GR7/9 when conducting ground attack missions against land targets.

Adam Ingram: Air supremacy involves the complete denial of airspace to an opposing force, allowing operations to continue unhindered, which involves immense effort beyond the scope of any single aircraft type. The Sea Harrier can effectively contribute to the achievement of air supremacy as part of a larger coalition effort.
	Air superiority is the suppression of effective enemy use of the air environment, usually within time and space limitations, and can be achieved by a variety of Air Defence aircraft, depending on the strength of the opposing forces. The ability of the FA2 to offer air superiority and protection for the Harrier GR7/9 while conducting ground attack missions is assessed as effective, either in isolation or with other Air Defence aircraft types.

Service Accommodation

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Project SLAM.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 58WS.

Service Accommodation

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Army's single living accommodation is in need of modernisation; what progress has been made with modernisation; when he expects modernisation to be completed; and what he expects the cost to be.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Surplus Barracks

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what barrack accommodation is surplus to requirements in Scotland and awaiting disposal; and if he will estimate the potential (a) married and (b) single accommodation capacity of these barracks if modernised.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 10 December 2002
	The Ministry of Defence currently has no barrack accommodation in Scotland surplus to requirement and awaiting disposal.

Territorial Army

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to increase the number of TA soldiers equipped and trained for nuclear, chemical and biological warfare.

Lewis Moonie: There are no current plans to increase the number of TA soldiers equipped and trained for nuclear, chemical and biological (NEC) warfare. All TA units hold training stocks of equipment and all TA soldiers undertake basic NEC training as part of their recruitment training and annual Individual Training Directives.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many more reservists need to be recruited to allow the reserves to play a role in dealing with a major terrorist incident.

Lewis Moonie: The volunteer reserves are a capable, integrated and usable part of the armed forces. They are able to play a role in military operations of all types at home and overseas, including those undertaken in response to requests to assist the civil authorities in the event of incidents in the United Kingdom. Additional measures are being put in place as a result of the Strategic Defence Review New Chapter to enhance the capability of the armed forces in general, and reserves in particular, to provide assistance in civil contingencies. These include the establishment of some 700 new Territorial Army posts, principally to give the regional command structure the capacity to sustain 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week working, and to provide a headquarters component for the 14 new Civil Contingency Reaction Forces.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what extra training reserve forces have received over the past 12 months in dealing with a terrorist incident involving (a) chemical, (b) biological and (c) radiological agents.

Lewis Moonie: None. The training plans for the new Civil Contingency Reaction Forces in relation to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents are still being developed. They will be aligned with existing volunteer reserve training and, in due course, with the requirements of specific regional contingency plans as these are developed in conjunction with local authorities and emergency services.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of brigades with full personnel protective equipment which would be needed to deal with a major terrorist incident using chemical or biological agents.

Adam Ingram: Terrorism in the United Kingdom is criminal activity. The police and the Home Office consequently have responsibility for preventing and responding to the threat. According to the nature of the event, lead responsibility for managing the consequences of an attack from a chemical or biological agent would fall to a number of Departments, and in particular, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural .Affairs or the Department of Health. Other Departments and Agencies provide support as appropriate.
	The armed forces may be called upon to provide support, from available resources, using specific military skills. The extent of assistance would, of course, be dependent on many factors, and in particular, the precise nature and scale of the incident. Most elements of the armed forces are, however, trained to operate in an environment where chemical or biological agents have been released, and they could, if necessary, provide support to the civil authorities using standard armed forces NBC equipment. As a result of work undertaken during the SDR New Chapter, NBC training will also be provided for those reserve personnel forming Civil Contingencies Reaction Forces, again using standard NBC equipment.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent training the Territorial Army has been given to deal with a major terrorist incident.

Lewis Moonie: No specific training has been given to the Territorial Army to deal with major terrorist incidents. Additional training for volunteer reserves for operations in support of civil contingencies (including terrorist attacks) was one of the New Chapter decisions announced on 31 October 2002. The arrangements for its implementation, for the Territorial Army generally and for those who volunteer to join the new Civil Contingency Reaction Forces, are being made by Headquarters Land Command at the moment.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training has been conducted in the last 12 months in each of the armed forces in dealing with a terrorist attack involving chemical or biological agents.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces are not responsible for dealing with a chemical or biological attack in the United Kingdom. The Home Office, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health would take the lead and could, if appropriate, call upon the limited skills of the armed forces. These skills are subject to constant refinement through training and exercises.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the stock of equipment to deal with a chemical or biological incident; and what plans he has to increase this stock;
	(2)  what equipment is available to deal with a terrorist attack using chemical or biological agents.

Adam Ingram: The primary responsibility for dealing with the consequences of a chemical or biological terrorist incident in the United Kingdom rests with Civil Departments. They are able to call upon the resources of the Ministry of Defence if they are available and are thought to be relevant. There are sufficient stocks of chemical and biological protective equipment for those members of the armed forces so called upon. The MOD stocks of protective equipment are geared towards military requirements.

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with the Department of Health about the response to a terrorist attack using biological agents.

Adam Ingram: Regular consultation takes place at both ministerial and official level about the threat from terrorism, the resilience to attack, and managing the consequences of an attack. These mechanisms were outlined in a joint memorandum by the Home Office, Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office to the Defence Select Committee on 22 May 2002 (House of Commons 518-II page Ev258, dated 24 July 2002).

Terrorist Incidents

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken to ensure that the communications between the armed forces and emergency services are compatible in the event of a terrorist attack.

Adam Ingram: A procurement initiation is in train to provide 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade with AIRWAVE equipment compatible with communications being procured by the police and other emergency services. This will provide the regional chain of command and deployed force elements with communications to support all operations undertaken in response to requests for assistance from the civil authorities. An interim solution is being put in place now to provide an improved mobile network capability in advance of the introduction into service of AIRWAVE.

Training Review

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the independent training review programme; and what actions he intends to take on the decisions of the programme.

Lewis Moonie: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the outcome of the Defence Training Review (DTR), which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 545W. Work is now complete on over a third of the DTR recommendations. Key achievements have included the formation of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom on 1 April 2002 and, more recently, the establishment of the Director General Training and Education organisation to provide the central policy focus for defence individual training and education. The programme to rationalise a number of specialist training streams, about which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces last updated the House on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 2WS, is also proceeding as planned. Implementation of the remaining DTR recommendations is continuing.

Warship Deployments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark will be ready for active deployment in the Royal Navy; what the original contract dates were; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent trials have been conducted on warship hulls in respect of blast-cleaning techniques.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any trials in respect of blast-cleaning techniques on warship hulls since July 1996.
	Two systems (including Mr. Farrow's) were demonstrated during 2000. Although the demonstrations were not on hulls, it was shown that the techniques employed could be used for that purpose.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and Mr.Nigel Farrow in respect of blast-cleaning techniques for warship hulls.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence had a meeting with Mr. Farrow at the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol on 25 November 2002. The Ministry of Defence fully explained its position in relation to Mr. Farrow's UK patent 2344348 in respect of alleged infringement activities at Portsmouth dockyard. The Ministry of Defence considered that the activities at Portsmouth did not infringe that patent.
	At the meeting Mr. Farrow raised further allegations concerning another patent and activities at other dockyards. The Ministry of Defence undertook to investigate the further allegations. It was made clear that the investigation would take some weeks, and would cover alleged patent infringement and validity issues. It will also consider possible contractual responsibilities in the matter. Mr. Farrow is aware that these investigations are on-going.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) the differences and (b) the similarities are between blast-cleaning techniques for warship hulls (i) employed by his Department and (ii) patented by Mr. Nigel Farrow.

Adam Ingram: Following an approach from Mr. Farrow concerning alleged use of his patents, the Ministry of Defence has undertaken to investigate the cleaning techniques in use in naval dockyards. The Ministry of Defence indicated that this investigation would take some weeks and is well under way. The outcome is expected early in the new year.
	Techniques relating to blast cleaning of ships are well known and used extensively. Mr. Farrow has proposed particular parameters for use in such systems and it is the alleged use of the particular parameters that is the subject of the investigation.
	Fleet Support Ltd. of Portsmouth has already stated that grit used at Portsmouth falls outside the range specified by Mr. Farrow. This has already been reported to Mr. Farrow.

Warships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in consequence of its disagreement with Mr. Nigel Farrow in respect of his claim of breached patent rights for blast cleaning techniques for warship hulls.

Adam Ingram: No external legal costs have been incurred by the Ministry of Defence. Investigation has been by the Ministry of Defence's intellectual property group, and is overseen by a chartered patent agent. Approximately two man weeks of internal effort have been expended on investigation and searches.

Wind Farms

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's objections to wind farm proposals 18 kilometres from the RAF Odiham base; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence deals with every wind energy proposal individually and each one is given a full and thorough appraisal by at least seven separate Technical Advisors, each with their own specialism including Radar, Low Flying, Communication Links and Met Office Radar. Changing the location by less than a mile could, in some cases, make the difference between the MOD raising an objection or not. From information supplied by the proposed developer, such an appraisal was conducted for the site near to RAF Odiham. Objections have been raised to avoid a compromise of safety.

Wind Farms

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the time taken by his Department to object to a proposal for a wind farm in the Nunney area in Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence deals with every wind energy proposal individually and each one is given a full and thorough appraisal by at least seven separate Technical Advisors, each with their own specialism including Radar, Low Flying, Communication Links and Met Office Radar. The number of proposals received, in excess of 1,000 this year compared to some 340 last year, impacts on the speed with which the experts involved are able to produce advice.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when CDC Capital Partners offices will close in each country in (a) South Asia, (b) South east Asia, (c) Africa and (d) Latin America; and whether the proposed re-organisation of CDC Capital Partners will result in job losses in (i) South Asia, (ii) South east Asia, (iii) Africa and (iv) America.

Clare Short: In the Americas region the Miami office will be closed during 2003. No other closures are planned. The proposed reorganisation of CDC may result in the creation of additional jobs in CDC's overseas offices.

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much third-party capital is under the management of CDC Capital Partners, broken down by (a) investment and (b) country.

Clare Short: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Investment Countries Third party capital (invested and committed) (# million) 
		
		
			 CGU-CDC China Investment Company China 32.2 
			 South Asia Gateway Terminal Sri Lanka 8.1 
			 Southern Cone Power Argentina, Chile, Peru 52.8 
			 Aureos Capital funds (18)— 92.1 
			
			 CPU Funds   
			 (i) South Asia Regional Fund India 38.8 
			 (ii) Commonwealth Africa Investments (18)— 30.0 
		
	
	(18) Aureos operates in Zambia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. It also manages two regional funds targeting Central America and one targeting the Indian Ocean region. The Commonwealth Africa Investments Fund is invested in Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia.

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what CDC's (a) investments and (b) disposals have been since June.

Clare Short: The value of CDC's investments and disposals since June 2002 have been:
	
		# million 
		
			 Month Investments Disposals 
		
		
			 June 21.3 3.1 
			 July 4.5 3.1 
			 August 1.1 4.5 
			 September 7.6 6.4 
			 October 5.9 0.9 
			 November 22.6 6.0 
			 Totals 63.0 24.0

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many CDC Capital Partners offices closed in each country in (a) South Asia, (b), South East Asia, (c) Africa and (d) Latin America since 1997; and whether office closures are anticipated in 2003.

Clare Short: Since 1997, CDC has closed one office in South Asia (Bangladesh), two offices in South East Asia (Philippines and Fiji), two offices in Africa (Malawi and Uganda) and five offices in Latin America (Peru, Mexico, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados). It is anticipated that the Miami office will be closed in 2003.

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) opening and (b) running costs were of CDC Capital Partners offices operating in (i) Asia, (ii) Africa, (iii) Latin America and (iv) Central and North America in the last year for which figures are available.

Clare Short: For last the CDC financial year, ie the calendar year 2001, (a) there were no material costs relating to the opening of CDC offices (b) the running costs for CDC's offices were: (i) Asia—#5.3 million (ii) Africa—#2.8 million (iii) Latin America—#1.4 million (iv) Central and North America—#6.4 million.

CDC Offices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the costs are of (a) opening and (b) closing CDC offices in (i) South Asia, (ii) South East Asia, (iii) Africa and (iv) Latin America.

Clare Short: Since 1997, there have been no material costs relating to the opening of CDC offices and the costs of the closure of CDC offices have been i) in South Asia—none; ii) in South East Asia—#216,000 (awaiting confirmation about Phillippines—actual figure might be higher); iii) in Africa—#35,000; iv) in South America and Caribbean, including an estimate for closing the Miami office—#800,000.

Famine (Africa)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department received information from NGOs warning of the famine in Ethiopia; and which NGOs gave the information.

Clare Short: holding answer 16 December 2002
	There are a number of regular forums between Government, donors and NGOs around humanitarian issues in Ethiopia. The UN World Food Programme plays a key role by providing early warning and on-going assessment of needs to donors, Government and NGOs. The DFID Addis office has been closely engaged with these groups.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Hague Conference

John Stanley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether the Government will be making a contribution to the Hague Conference Supplementary Budget XLVIII (2002–2003) for the conference's continuing work on international child abduction; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government will not be making a contribution towards the Hague Conference Supplementary Budget XLVIII (2002–2003). The Hague Conference Supplementary Budget came into being last year XLVII (2001–2002) when member states of the Hague Conference were invited to make a voluntary contribution towards the additional funding needed to reinforce the administration, monitoring and support for existing conventions, particularly the Children's Conventions. Last year XLVII (2001- 2002) the UK was in a position to make a voluntary contribution to the Supplementary Budget and arranged for contributions of Euro30,600.42 (England and Wales) and Euro1,601.28 (Northern Ireland) to be made over and above the standard UK contribution of Euro110,290.62. After the Netherlands the UK was the leading donor of supplemental payments during that year.
	The Hague Conference carried forward the Supplementary Budget into year XLVIII (2002–2003). Again this was based on voluntary payments since the budget had not been submitted to the Council for approval. The expected UK budgetary contribution of #117,580.65 was paid in full in early August but this year we are not in a position to make any additional voluntary payment.
	The Government supports strongly the work of the Hague Conference and the expansion of its activities. The Supplementary Budget will be assumed into the standard contributions for the next financial year and the appropriate arrangements have been made to ensure that the UK will be in a position to make its full contribution.

King Edward VIII

Louise Ellman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress she is making on the review of releasing the records relating to King Edward VIII.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside to the written statement I made on 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 64W.

Parliamentary Questions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Woking of 20 November (refs.82097, 82096), on the night session at Bow Street Magistrates Court.

Yvette Cooper: The questions were answered on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 644W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Corporate Killing

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of health and safety legislation to deal with corporate killing; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 December 2002
	We have a manifesto commitment to legislation and will do so when parliamentary time allows. I have discussed our proposals for increasing the liability of corporations to manslaughter with colleagues and will continue discussions in the light of the outcome of the regulatory impact assessment we are at present conducting.

CABs

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the publications produced by his Department that refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau Service for advice and assistance; and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is informed of such referrals prior to publication.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Service in England and in Wales, and in Scotland is a valuable source of independent advice and information on a wide range of issues that affect and concern the citizen. This includes a number of areas of concern to the Home Office, such as immigration and crime. Given the CAB Service's knowledge and expertise, the Department makes frequent reference to CABx as a source of information and advice in its publications, websites, and press-notices and in its replies to correspondence from a number of interested parties.
	The Home Office is committed to working with the Department of Trade and Industry, and other Government Departments with a working relationship with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau (NACAB) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), to ensure a productive partnership between Government and the CAB service, and the sharing of information and policy developments relevant to work of the service.

Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the French and the United Kingdom Governments will conclude a formal legal agreement to enable United Kingdom immigration officers at Calais to operate full United Kingdom border controls; what arrangements are being made for asylum seekers to claim asylum in the United Kingdom at Calais; and how they will have access to legal advice.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The United Kingdom (UK) and French Governments are currently engaged in detailed negotiation on the agreement, which we hope will be concluded early in the new year. I am unable to provide information about the specific content of the agreement at this stage, but I can confirm that UK officials operating the current juxtaposed controls at Coquelles and the Gare du Nord in Paris do not accept asylum claims. Where such applications are made they remain the responsibility of the French authorities to consider. There are no plans to adopt different procedures at Calais. The current procedure operated at Coquelles and the Gare du Nord is in accordance with the requirements of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and the Dublin Convention. We will be consulting relevant organisations, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), in finalising these arrangements.

Peter Foster

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what discussions Home Office officials other than those referred to in the Home Office Statement on Peter Foster had with (a) the Chief Immigration Officer at Luton Airport and (b) the IND Removals Process Team on (i) 2 and (ii) 3 December on the subject of Peter Foster;
	(2)  what gave rise to the discussion between the Chief Immigration Officer at Luton and the Removals Process Team on 3 December referred to in the Home Office statement on Peter Foster;
	(3)  in relation to the Home Office Statement on Peter Foster, what discussions the Immigration and National Directorate officials who had contact with Ministers about the case had with the officials in the Immigration and Nationality Department Removals Process Team; who alerted Immigration and Nationality Department officials to media interest in the case, and why they did so; what discussions the Chief Immigration Officer had with the Removals Process Team prior to his arguing that there was no need to delay removal until 18 December; and what factors had led Immigration and Nationality Department officials to conclude that the removal did not need to be delayed until 18th December.

Beverley Hughes: As my earlier statement on the events of 31 August to 4 December 2002 indicated, the only contact between Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) officials involved in the case and ministerial staff was the request for, and provision of, a factual account for Ministers of where the case stood by officials in the IND Removals Process Team. The acknowledgement in response to this asked for further updates as appropriate.
	The IND Removals Process Team was alerted to media interest in the case by the Home Office Press Office who requested information to enable them to respond to enquiries from the media.
	The Removals Process Team contacted the Chief Immigration Officer at Luton Airport to obtain the necessary information. In the second such conversation, on 3 December, the Chief Immigration Officer indicated that for the reasons given in the statement of events, i.e. that with the application for judicial review refused there was no reason to delay removal, he intended to set removal directions for the first available flight on or after 6 December.

Prison Service

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the IT developments within the Prison Service completed in the past two years; what developments are in production stage; and what his priorities are for development over the next five years.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service outsourced its IT with effect from 1 July 2000. A major infrastructure upgrade is under way that will for the first time give the Prison Service a modern, networked IT system and provide 18,600 personal computers at over 170 sites in England and Wales. By early November 2002, implementation was about 50 per cent. complete and work is well under way at remaining sites. Completion is on target for 31 March 2003.
	In addition, the development and rollout of the Offender Assessment System (OASys) will enable the electronic exchange of information between the Prison and Probation Services and the electronic completion of documents that assist with offender risk assessments and the provision of information on reoffending and the risk of harm to others. This is on target to go live progressively from April 2003.
	Priorities for development over the next three years will be agreed later this year. The main projects which are likely to be developed over the next five years are:
	a system to improve occupancy at establishments through the provision of accurate and up to date accommodation information;
	a comprehensive replacement of the system for managing prisoner information; and
	new finance and management information systems.
	Tuesday 7 January 2003

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Devolution

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised since 26 November 2002.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today to the hon. Lady the Member for the Vale of York (Miss McIntosh), Official Report, 7 January 2003, column 10.

Devolution

Ann McKechin: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues she has considered since 1 December 2002.

Lynda Clark: Since 1 December 2002, 32 devolution issue cases have been intimated to me, all but one relating to criminal law. All of these have concerned human rights issues, a substantial number concerned undue delay in criminal proceedings, others included cases on the fixing of the punishment part of the sentence of a life prisoner to replace the old system of serving an indeterminate length of sentence and the powers of the Crown to use surveillance tapes from prison visiting rooms as evidence in a trial. The one civil case involved delay in an appeal from the application of a children's panel reporter to the sheriff for an interim exclusion order.

Human Rights

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General in how many cases she has intervened since 1 October 2002 on human rights issues.

Lynda Clark: Since 1 October 2002, I have not intervened in any new cases on human rights issues. However, I did appear in person before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 15 to 17 October 2002 in the case of R v. Her Majesty's Advocate and the Advocate-General. This case involved delay in bringing criminal proceedings and breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Clerks

Keith Vaz: To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many (a) Clerks of the House and (b) Clerks of Committees are (i) black and (ii) Asian.

Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons Commission currently employs 303 individual members of staff (including part-timers) in the Department of the Clerk of the House. Of these, 241 (approximately 80 per cent.) have completed ethnic monitoring forms, which are voluntary. The figures for members of staff in post on 31 December 2002 were:
	Of staff in the Department of the Clerk of the House, 3.31 per cent. declared themselves to be from ethnic minorities, of whom:
	1.24 per cent. declared themselves to be black
	2.07 per cent. declared themselves to be Asian
	Of Committee staff, 5.18 per cent. declared themselves to be from ethnic minorities, of whom:
	2.59 per cent. declared themselves to be black
	2.59 per cent. declared themselves to be Asian

LORD CHANCELLOR

Judicial Appointments

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Lord Chancellor is taking to amend the appointments system to increase the diversity of the judiciary.

Yvette Cooper: Since taking up office in 1997 the Lord Chancellor has introduced many improvements to the judicial appointments process aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and greater diversity within the judiciary, as follows:
	Establishing the Commission for Judicial Appointments to oversee the procedures and deal with complaints
	Piloting an assessment centre
	Removing lower and upper age limits for most appointments
	Setting up a work shadowing scheme
	Arranging events about judicial appointments to talk openly about the appointments procedures and encourage applications
	Publicising criteria and appointments procedures, including on diversity, in booklets, on the LCD website and in a video
	Publishing the Judicial Appointments annual report since October 1999, which includes statistical information about the appointment of women and people of minority ethnic origin
	Liasing with the legal profession on diversity issues, for example, through the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments
	Introducing a salaried part-time working facility and flexible part-time sitting arrangements for those who have had career breaks for family reasons
	Abolishing the system of appointments to the High Court bench by invitation only
	Involving judicial and lay members in more aspects of the selection process
	Amending the appointment criteria following recommendations by the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments
	Confirming publicly that homosexuality is not a bar to appointment
	Confirming that advocacy experience is not a prerequisite for judicial appointment
	Supporting appraisal and mentoring schemes
	Improving application and consultation forms and guidance
	Researching factors that affect (especially) women and ethnic minority lawyers in deciding whether to apply to be judges
	Opening opportunities to become recorders to blind people.

Access to Children (Germany)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will take steps to contact parents who have reported prevention of access to their children in Germany to the Child Abduction Unit, to determine if their problems remain and offer them assistance as appropriate; and what progress has been made on Lady Meyer's case.

Rosie Winterton: The Child Abduction Unit discharges the Lord Chancellor's functions as Central Authority under the 1980 Hague and European Conventions. Article 21 of the Hague Convention enables applications via the designated Central Authorities to make arrangements for organising or securing the effective exercise of rights of access, and the European Convention enables a person who has obtained in one Contracting State a decision on rights of access to apply via the Central Authorities for the purpose of having the decision recognised or enforced in another Contracting State. Any parent resident in England and Wales whose child is resident in Germany may apply to the Child Abduction Unit; but there are no plans to contact parents who have reported difficulties but have not made such an application.
	No such application has been made in Lady Meyer's case.

Access to Children (Overseas)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will take actions against countries that deny British parents reasonable access to their children held abroad.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor is designated as the Central Authority for England and Wales and Northern Ireland under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and European Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on the Restoration of Custody and Children. Should there be clear evidence of countries which are contracting states to those conventions holding children of British parents and denying those parents reasonable access to their children in breach of their obligations under the conventions, consideration would of course be given to all appropriate courses of action to rectify the situation.

Child Abduction

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor's Department will produce a yearly report presenting the results of legal proceedings abroad sought to settle disputes related to child abduction.

Rosie Winterton: The Child Abduction Unit, which discharges the functions of the Lord Chancellor as Central Authority under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and European Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on the Restoration of Custody and Children, maintains statistics on applications under those conventions in respect of children brought to and taken from England and Wales.
	A summarised version of those statistics appears as part of the annual report of the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, the latest version of which was published in October 2002. A copy is in the Libraries of both Houses and is also available on the OSPT website.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list legislation involving protection for survivors of domestic violence which has not been brought into force, stating the reasons in each case.

Rosie Winterton: Section 60 of Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 has not been implemented. This section would give the Lord Chancellor the power to make rules to allow a prescribed person, or category of person, to act on behalf of survivors of domestic violence.
	It was not implemented in 1997 with Part IV in order to give the courts, police, practitioners and others time to become familiar with the new law and gain experience in its operation before considering the introduction of new procedures and responsibilities of this nature.
	The Lord Chancellor's Department commissioned research to assess the effectiveness of current remedies for domestic violence and understand the practical impact on individuals of third party applications. The research report has now been considered by our Domestic Violence Advisory Group, which includes representation from the police, voluntary sector, judiciary and others. The group concluded that the problems identified in the research would not be most effectively addressed by implementing section 60. A sub-group of the advisory group will now consider these problems and recommend how best to tackle them.

E-voting

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures the Lord Chancellor intends to take to ensure e-participation is included in e-voting pilots.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The local e-voting electoral modernisation pilot programme is the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. In conjunction with the Electoral Commission, the Office of the e-Envoy and local authorities, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is exploring what more can usefully be done—before, during and after the electoral process—to ensure the e-voting pilot programme takes full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the advent of new technologies. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's aim is to engage with and better inform voters and other key stakeholders of the electoral process, increase the opportunity for voting and maintain the integrity and security of the ballot.

Immigration Appellate Authority

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average length of time was from explanatory statement receipt to the fixing of a hearing date by the Immigration Appellate Authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not kept on the average length of time from the explanatory statement receipt to the fixing of a hearing date by the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA). However, for immigration and asylum cases received in the 12 months period ending 30 June 2002 the average time from receipt was:
	six weeks for First Hearing; and
	15 weeks to the Substantive Hearing.

Land Tribunal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases have been brought before the Land Tribunal in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: In the last three years, 1,421 cases have been brought before the Lands Tribunal. 501 were for the year ending December 2000; 515 for the year ending December 2001 and 405 for the year ending December 2002.

Returning Officers

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what regulations there are on the supply by returning officers of labels containing electors' details to political parties or other interested parties.

Yvette Cooper: Current regulations do not provide for the supply of labels which include details of electors to authorised users. Such supply was discontinued because electoral registers are now available in data form.

Small Claims Court

John Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to review the (a) rules governing and (b) guidance offered to judges presiding in the Small Claims Court concerning their conduct to litigants in person; and if he will introduce independent assessors to monitor the observance of such rules and guidance.

Rosie Winterton: There are no rules relating specifically to judges in small claims cases dealing with litigants in person, and the Lord Chancellor has no current plans to introduce any.
	The Judicial Studies Board, an independent body, provides guidance to judges on the conduct of small claims cases in its Civil Bench Book and on the particular needs of litigants in person in its Equal Treatment Bench Book. Both publications are available on the JSB's website (www.jsboard.co.uk).
	The Lord Chancellor expects judges to uphold the highest standards of probity, impartiality, courtesy and consideration in dealing with all litigants. Where it is alleged that a judge has failed to meet these standards, the Lord Chancellor, as Head of the Judiciary, is able to consider any complaint that is made about the judge's conduct. He has no plans to introduce independent assessors to monitor the Judiciary's dealings with litigants in person.

Weekend Voting

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the feasibility of weekend voting.

Yvette Cooper: We plan to assess the feasibility of weekend voting after 31 January in the light of responses to the consultation paper XCombining English Local Authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament Elections in 2004" (issued jointly with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister), which (among other things) also seeks views on weekend voting.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Divisions

Julia Drown: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to propose steps to reduce time taken to record votes in the House.

Ben Bradshaw: In his memorandum of December 2001 to the Modernisation Committee, my right. hon. Friend asked the question whether views in the House on electronic voting have changed since Members were consulted in the last Parliament. He stressed that any form of electronic voting should require Members to attend Divisions in person, but could remove the need for multiple Divisions.

House of Lords Reform

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on proposals for further reform of the House of Lords.

Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of York (Hugh Bayley), Official Report, 7 January 2003, column 19.

Parliament

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals for changing the arrangements for the recall of Parliament;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals to improve the legal advice available to Parliament.

Robin Cook: I have no plans to do so.

Parliamentary Accountability

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals for enhancing the role of Parliament in decisions to deploy British forces in armed conflict overseas.

Robin Cook: I have no plans to do so. The Government have repeatedly given Parliament the opportunity to debate decisions about the deployment of British forces in armed conflict overseas.

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council what steps he is taking to alert Departments to the new opportunities for pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills for next session's legislative programme.

Robin Cook: The Government want to ensure that more Bills are published in draft and can receive pre-legislative scrutiny, and I am working closely with other Departments to achieve this aim.

SCOTLAND

Employment

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the benefits for employment and enterprise in Scotland arising out of the Copenhagen summit.

Anne McGuire: Scotland is well placed to take advantage of the new opportunities which enlargement of the European Union will create.

Business Insolvency (North-East Scotland)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the trend in small business insolvencies in north-east Scotland.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office does not routinely compile insolvency data. The latest official figures on company liquidations in Scotland were released by the Department of Trade and Industry on 1 November 2002. The data is not published on a regional basis within Scotland.

Broadband

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with small business representatives in Scotland regarding the development of broadband services in rural areas.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the small business representative organisations in Scotland. Our discussions cover a wide range of concerns, including the development of broadband services. The small business community will be taking an interest in the outcome of the Scottish Executive programme to roll out pilot projects in the Highlands and Islands and Dumfries and Galloway areas.

Shipbuilding

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on shipbuilding on the Clyde.

Helen Liddell: I recently announced the publication of the Government's response to the Scottish Affairs Committee report on shipbuilding on the Clyde. I recognise the significance of the shipbuilding industry within Scotland's manufacturing base and to the West of Scotland in particular. The Scotland Office maintains extensive contacts with the shipyard management at the most senior levels to discuss opportunities and I am specifically committed to supporting and promoting export opportunities for the Clyde shipyards.
	The Clyde yards currently benefit from significant Government orders and have the opportunity to compete for work on the Future Carrier programme from a position of strength.

European Union Business

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what efforts she is making to ensure that the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) Scottish Parliament are fully informed of European Union matters.

Helen Liddell: The Government involves the Scottish Executive as fully as possible on European Union matters touching on devolved areas of responsibility, in accordance with XThe Memorandum of Understanding and The Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues".
	It is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive to inform the Scottish Parliament of relevant European Union matters. Explanatory Memoranda on European Community documents prepared by Whitehall departments are copied to the devolved Administrations. The Scottish Executive routinely pass these to the Scottish Parliament, which can request further explanation from the Executive in the form of a Scottish Covering Note.

Postcomm

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with Postcomm regarding deregulation of postal services in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 166W.

Manufacturing Sector

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action she is taking in conjunction with business and industry interests to tackle the problems faced by the manufacturing sector in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: I will continue to work closely with the Scottish Executive and with my colleagues in Government to ensure that the interests of the manufacturing sector in Scotland are understood.

Scotland Office

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will announce the proposed operating costs of the Scotland Office for the financial year 2003–04.

Helen Liddell: Details of my Department's expenditure in 2003–04 will be published with the Main Supply Estimates, in the spring.

CABINET OFFICE

Millennium Bug

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much was spent on the Millennium Bug Campaign in each year from 1990; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what evaluation has taken place of the Millennium Bug Campaign; who undertook the consultation; what the overall costs were; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The total spend on the Millennium Bug public information campaign was #16million.
	The estimated cost of the work to prepare central Government IT systems for the century date change was #380million.
	The Government's Millennium Bug preparations were a huge success, with the UK almost untouched by the bug. The work also had wide reaching benefits to the entire modernising Government agenda. These were drawn out in the command paper 'Modernising Government in Action: Realising the benefits of Y2K', which was placed in the Library of the House on 18 April 2000.

Paper Purchases

Sue Doughty: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how the Cabinet Office defines sustainably managed sources, in relation to purchasing paper supplies.

Douglas Alexander: Cabinet Office defines 'sustainably managed sources', in relation to purchasing paper supplies, as forests supplying paper mills with wood which are typically managed in accordance with ISO14001 environmental management systems (EMS) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) programs.

Postcodes

Paul Truswell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what use the Cabinet Office and its agencies makes of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when usages were last reviewed.

Douglas Alexander: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Office of the e-Envoy in the Cabinet Office is responsible for running and maintaining the UK online website. Postcode information is collected from those registering for consultations with a view to better understanding user requirements and tailoring future services accordingly.
	UK Online Interactive does not currently routinely collect postcode information from users. However, Somerset County Council have been collecting postcode information through UK Online Interactive in order to present locally tailored information back to the user. A project is currently being planned which will extend this facility to the rest of the service, collecting postcode information derived from the set top box or entered by the user.
	The Office of the e-Envoy also uses postcode area data to map the availability and take-up of online technologies. These maps are used in the development of the Government's policy aimed at reducing the 'digital divide'.
	(b) The Cabinet Office currently makes no use of postcode data in devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards.
	(c) The Government Car and Despatch Agency operates two services. The InterDespatch Service makes use of postcodes as a building identifier for its delivery and collection services. The Government Car Service uses postcodes in conjunction with an autoroute system to identify addresses for the pick up/set down of passengers. Both these uses are under constant review.

Staff Bonuses

John Lyons: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much each Government Department has paid in bonuses to staff who achieved personal targets in this financial year;
	(2)  how many Departments which have failed to achieve Government targets have paid staff bonuses.

Douglas Alexander: Responsibility for pay, outside of the senior civil service, is delegated to Departments and agencies. What bonuses are paid to these staff is therefore a matter for individual Departments and agencies. This Information is not held centrally. The new pay and performance management arrangements for the senior civil service are designed to reward and provide incentives for high performance. Under these arrangements all Departments awarded non-consolidated bonuses to their top performers. Performance bonuses totalling #6 million were paid to those who contributed most to their Department's objectives. Bonuses were paid to around 55 per cent. of senior civil service staff.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

ARC Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when a decision will be made on preserved rights and beneficiaries of the ARC scheme.

Kim Howells: The Government have made clear their intention to introduce preserved rights for existing beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary television licence scheme, when the social mix or the level of warden cover in their sheltered housing change. The regulations governing the ARC scheme are complex and the structure of the proposed changes remains under consideration, but we shall bring forward amending regulations as soon as is compatible with the need to avoid creating new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.

BBC (Production Quota)

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will reform the independent production quota for the BBC to (a) minimise exclusions to qualifying hours and (b) calculate the quota per channel by (i) qualifying hours and (ii) spending;
	(2)  she intends to announce the Government's response to the Independent Television Commission's Programme Supply Review.

Kim Howells: The Government's response to the ITC's UK Programme Supply Review will be announced within the next two weeks. This response will include details of the amendments we intend to make to the Communications Bill and the BBC's Agreement, including in relation to the independent productions quota.

Children's Hospices (Lottery Funding)

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of allocating Lottery funding for children's hospices.

Richard Caborn: The New Opportunities Fund children's palliative care programme was launched in March 2002 and closed in August 2002. Applications for all three strands of the programme (children's hospice provision, home based teams and bereavement services) are currently in assessment. A decision making committee will meet in January 2003 to consider which applications to fund. Applicants will then be informed whether or not their bid has been successful. Details of all the awards made will be announced shortly after this.

Licensing Bill

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she made of the compatibility of the objectives of the Licensing Bill with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, with particular reference to the prevention of nuisance.

Kim Howells: On the face of the Licensing Bill, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts stated under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act that in her view the provisions of the Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.

Lottery Funds (West Cumbria)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Lottery funds have been given to the towns of Workington and Maryport in West Cumbria.

Richard Caborn: Information on Lottery awards is provided from the National Lottery awards database, which is based upon information provided to us by the distributing bodies. While it is possible to search the database for information relating to specific towns, it is not mandatory for this information to be included in the dataset. This means that some awards relating to a specific town may not appear in the total figure shown.
	The database shows that Lottery awards totalling a minimum of #8,455,887 have been made to Workington and totalling a minimum of #1,060,968 have been made to Maryport.

Museums and Galleries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 539W, on museums and galleries, if she will place the efficiency review of national museums and galleries sponsored by her Department in 1999–2000 in the Library.

Kim Howells: A copy of the Efficiency Review of national museums and galleries was placed in the House of Commons Library following its publication in September 1999. It can also be viewed on my Department's website at www.culture.gov.uk

Sporting Events

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she has plans to increase the number of major sporting events which must be shown on terrestrial television; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: There are no immediate plans to review the list of sporting and other national events. However, the Government aim to keep the list under regular review, and if significant changes take place either in the public perception of what events are of national importance, or in the economics of sports rights, the Government would look at the matter again.

Sustainable Procurement

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how her Department defines sustainable procurement, in relation to its Environmental Management System.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 544W. That answer is in complete agreement with the requirements of the Departmental Environmental Management System, an initiative which has the whole hearted support of the Green Minister (Baroness Blackstone), the Department's Environmental Champions, senior officials and staff.

TV Licences

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she plans to change the cost of a TV licence for students; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government have no plans to change the cost of television licences for students. Students pay the standard licence fee and are subject to the normal licensing requirements. We have received representations calling for concessions for students but it would be difficult to justify giving priority to students over the many other groups with a case for special treatment.

DEFENCE

Appointees

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list current appointees on the (a) board of the RAF Museum, (b) board of the Royal Marines Museum, (c) board of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, (d) Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors, (e) Review Board for Government Contracts, (f) board of the National Army Museum and (g) Defence Scientific Advisory Council.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is as follows: (a) Board of the RAF Museum 
	Chair
	Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns GCB CBE LVO FRAeS RAF (Retd.)
	Trustees
	The right hon. Baroness Blatch CBE
	Mr. L. A. Edwards (Anthony) BSc MBA CEng FRAeS
	Sir Neil Cossons MA FSA FMA FRSA CBE
	Sir Gerald Hosker KCB QC
	The right hon. Sir Geoffrey Pattie BSc PhD
	Sir R. H. Evans CBE
	Dr. Judith Rowbotham
	Air Vice Marshal David Crwys-Williams CB (MD SSVC)
	Lord Clarke of Hampstead
	Mr.Victor Gauntlett FRSA FIMI FINSTPET
	Mr. Alastair Stewart
	His Excellency Air Marshall I. D. McFadyen CB OBE FRAeS RAF (Retd.)
	Professor R. J. Overy MA PhD FRHists
	Mr. D. E. Young
	Sir Roger Jackling
	Mr. Michael Dale CBE
	Lord Evans of Watford (b) Board of the Royal Marines Museum
	Sir Henry Beverley KCB OBE
	Captain Brian Gibbs RM Retired
	Councillor M. Geddes
	Lt Col Andrew Noyse RM Retd.
	Colonel M. Sturman OBE
	WO1 (RSM) J. Forster RM
	Councillor M. Hancock CBE MP (c) Board of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum
	Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman KCB JP DL
	Rear Admiral Niall Kilgour
	Dr. Martin Copp
	Rear Admiral Paul Hodinott CB OBE
	Captain Terry Meadows CBE
	Mr. Tim Schadla-Hall
	Mr. Louis Shermer-Smith OBE
	Mr. Tom Walters BEM
	Councillor Mike Geddes
	Mr. Robin Webb (d) Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors
	His Honour Judge Harris
	Mr. C. M. Lake
	Mr. A. G. Corless
	Mrs. L. L. Phipps
	Mr. K. N. Walton (e) Review Board for Government Contracts
	George Staples CB QC
	Fraser Ashman
	Sir Alan Bailey KCB
	Dr. Alan Fox
	Chris Melrose (f) Council of the National Army Museum
	Field Marshal Sir John Chapple GCB CBE DL
	The Hon. David McAlpine
	Mr. Richard Marriott
	Sir Nigel Mobbs JP
	The Rt. Reverend Peter J. Nott
	Professor Hew Strachan MA Phd FRHistS
	The Lady Vaizey
	General Sir John Waters GCB CBE JP DL (g) Defence Scientific Advisory Council
	Professor A. Ledwith
	Professor R. Needham
	Dr. D. J. Price
	Mr. P. J. Stein
	Dr. A. L. Mears
	Dr. L. V. Bennett
	Professor P. G. Blain
	Professor A. J. Kinloch
	Professor R. Voles
	Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup
	Lt Gen R C Menzies
	Mr. G. H. B. Jordan
	Mr. M. Earwicker
	Mr. P. Roper
	Mr. P. D. Ewins
	Professor D. King
	Dr. A. Keddy

Brave Millennium

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the recommendations arising out of the 1999 Integrated Contingency Planning exercise Brave Millennium have been accepted by his Department; what money has been spent to cover the cost of these commitments since 1999; what recommendations have not been accepted by his Department; what the basis was of such decisions; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Exercise Brave Millennium examined high-level aspects of integrated contingency planning, improving awareness of the key issues affecting the Ministry of Defence's ability to respond quickly and efficiently to any request for assistance from civil authorities.
	As a result of the exercise 57 areas for further work were highlighted, some of it involving other Government Departments/agencies, such as the Home Office, the Police, and the Department of Health.
	Most of that work has been completed and a number of actions taken. Many of these entailed the modification of existing processes and procedures. Work is in hand on a small number of outstanding issues. The expenditure involved is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The second Brave Millennium, held in March 2002, confirmed that improvements to integrated contingency planning processes had been made, while further improvements will result from the Strategic Defence Review New Chapter.

British Nuclear Tests (Compensation)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in compensation to ex-servicemen and medical auxiliaries who attended British nuclear tests and have suffered consequent illness.

Lewis Moonie: The Department's consistent line is that we have every confidence in the independent studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund that showed veterans' participation in the nuclear test programme has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life, or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Consequently no compensation has been paid to British nuclear test veterans.

Challenger 2

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the development of camouflage nets for the Challenger 2 tank; what estimate he has made of the costs of development; and what trials have been carried out.

Adam Ingram: Challenger 2 already has an effective counter-surveillance capability. We are investigating ways to further improve this capability. I am withholding specific details of the developments under Exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Cruise Missiles

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Cruise missiles are available for operations; what logistics and support operations are required; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, Security and International Relations).

Hostage Taking

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 16W, if the considerable and compelling evidence of systematic and continuous grave breaches of the fourth Geneva Convention included considerable and compelling evidence of the crime of hostage taking; whether anyone was named in the report as being suspected of the crime of hostage taking; and what recommendations were made in the report for further action on the issue of (a) hostage taking and (b) war crimes referred to in the report.

Adam Ingram: As I explained in my answer of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 335W the report itself is a summary of evidence drawn from the statements of individuals who witnessed or were subject to alleged acts of Iraqi brutality during the Gulf War. The Ministry of Defence has a duty to protect the confidentiality of those who co-operated with the Royal Military Police.
	The Royal Military Police were tasked with determining the facts alone. Their final report makes no recommendations.

Iraq

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Iraq is covered by no-fly sanctions; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The no fly zones cover all the area of Iraq north of 36th parallel and south of the 33rd parallel. The purpose of our patrols of the Iraqi no fly zones is entirely humanitarian. They are conducted in support of UN SCR 688, which demanded that Saddam Hussein end the brutal repression of his own people.

MOD Land (Inglis Barracks)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to put on the market MOD land used by BFPO on its two sites at Inglis Barracks; what arrangements will be made for the role of the land, to take account of the needs of the local community; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Marketing of the site is expected to commence mid 2005.
	The current intention is that the site would be sold with the benefit of a development brief and, or, an outline planning approval which I understand will be the subject of detailed negotiations with the Planning Department of the London Borough of Barnet and where necessary, the Greater London Assembly and Transport for London. These negotiations should address the needs of the local community by taking into account the policies contained within the Borough's Unitary Development Plan.

Operation Fresco

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) weekly and (b) total cost of Operation Fresco has been, since it began.

Adam Ingram: Information on the weekly costs of Operation Fresco is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In the run up to the strike the MOD incurred expenditure of around #8 million associated with the initial purchase of the urgent operational equipment such as protective clothing, breathing apparatus and hydraulic cutting equipment. No other detailed costs are yet available.

Organophosphates

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that British service personnel are not exposed to organophosphate pesticides when on operations in the Middle East.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The use of pesticides remains an essential component of force protection against the threat of insect borne disease. It is the policy of the Department only to procure pesticides approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 or to seek approval from Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to store items in United Kingdom, for use in overseas locations. Those pesticides are only supplied to and used by trained personnel, who are fully equipped with the appropriate personal protective equipment.

QinetiQ

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the plans of the Sea Technology Group and their impact in relation to the funding, operation and staffing levels of QinetiQ.

Lewis Moonie: The Sea Technology Group is part of the Defence Procurement Agency which is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence.
	The Group is responsible for providing technical standards, advice and safety regulation for maritime platforms and places a wide a range of contracts with the commercial sector, including QinetiQ, and with other Government agencies to fulfil this role.
	There are no plans to change the role of the Sea Technology Group or its relationships with existing suppliers. Contracts are placed with QinetiQ and other suppliers on the basis of the capabilities they offer and the support requirements of the MOD. We maintain a dialogue with QinetiQ and other suppliers about our forward plans but it is a matter for the company to determine the appropriate funding, operation and staffing levels based on the work it wins or expects to win from the MOD and others.

QinetiQ

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent funding decisions by (a) his Department and (b) the Sea Technology Group which affecting QinetiQ.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence continues to determine its requirements as a customer for support from industry, including QinetiQ, in the normal way.
	In common with other defence suppliers, it is a matter for QinetiQ to determine the appropriate staffing and resource levels it needs to meet any requirements placed upon it by MOD.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the additional information I have provided today in answer to her question on the relationship between the Sea Technology Group of the Defence Procurement Agency and QinetiQ.

Royal Navy Vessels

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent IT upgrades have been made to Royal Navy vessels; how this improves capability; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Navy Star Programme provides key IS support to RN vessels. A common IT infrastructure is being progressively deployed across the fleet. With the exception of two vessels, the programme will be complete by 2005. The rate of deployment is constrained by the availability of suitable fitting opportunities. All ship's staff have access to the system, which supports a comprehensive range of administrative and operational support applications, as well as standard OA facilities. An e-mail capability provides connectivity to shore users, including families and friends for welfare purposes. The system is refreshed on a cycle of upgrades to sustain and improve capability.
	A significant number of Royal Navy Command Support Systems, used for the planning and execution of maritime and amphibious operations, have been deployed operationally (39 ships and 10 shore units). An incremental rollout programme delivers regular capability enhancements. The most recent of these enhancements has been to upgrade the hardware in 2001 and 2002 to provide the latest commercial off-the-shelf systems, giving better performance and reliability. Software has also recently been improved with the release of Version 7 software. This will give direct benefit to the new Landing Platform Dock (Replacement) amphibious ships and also the aircraft carriers in their role as NATO High Readiness Force (Maritime) Commander.
	In addition to the above, the Ship Command System in the aircraft carriers and TYPE 42 destroyers, including the Landing Platform: Helicopter—HMS Ocean, is undergoing a programme to replace obsolescent display screens. The Endurance and Archer class inshore training vessels have also had electronic planned maintenance systems fitted to improve availability.
	A large proportion of the electrical/electronics systems fitted within RN vessels and their weapons systems use computers or incorporate software or firmware to support their specific functionality. Such equipment is not considered to fall within the heading of 'information technology, and accordingly, has not been included in this answer.

Subcontractors (Prompt Payment)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to guarantee prompt payments to subcontractors working on Defence Estates projects.

Lewis Moonie: Defence Estates is bound by the statutory requirements of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 that imposes an obligation on it and its contractors to pay all valid invoices within 30 days.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 16–19 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 16–20 December 2002. The Scottish Minister for Environment and Rural Development and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland also attended.
	The Council, after lengthy negotiation, reached conclusions by qualified majority on the linked matters of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform, urgent measures to bring about the recovery of cod stocks and the setting of total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2003.
	On CFP reform, the Council's conclusions were embodied in three new regulations, one addressing the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fishing resources and redefining the basic framework of the CFP, one permitting an emergency Community measure for scrapping fishing vessels, and one amending the provisions concerning Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector. Key features, including some points which the UK fought hard to secure, are:
	renewal for a further 10 years of the regime confining access to the 6 to 12 mile zones to fishing vessels which have traditionally fished there;
	renewal of the Shetland Box pending a Commission review during 2003 of all such access restrictions to determine whether their continued application is justified in conservation terms;
	retention of the principle of relative stability for allocating fishing opportunities among member states on the basis of historical fishing patterns, explicitly including the Hague Preference arrangements which can provide additional fishing opportunities to the UK and Ireland when TACs fall below determined trigger levels;
	confirmation, in relation to the access which Spain, Portugal and Finland gain to the North Sea from 1 January 2003 under their Treaties of Accession, that there has been no adjustment to allocations of regulated stocks in favour of these member states, which may fish only for unregulated stocks. There is also a commitment to monitor any consequential impact on regulated stocks;
	commitment to a multi-annual approach to stock management based on recovery plans, involving effort limitation where necessary, for stocks which are outside safe biological limits, and management plans for other stocks. Recovery plans will be developed during 2003 for southern hake, sole in the Western Channel and Bay of Biscay, Rockall haddock, and nephrops in the Cantabrian Sea and off the Iberian peninsula;
	provision to establish Regional Advisory Councils to improve the participation of fishermen and other stakeholders in the process of managing fisheries; the ending of public aid for the building of fishing vessels at the end of 2004. In the meantime such aid will be restricted to member states who have met national limits on fleet capacity and to vessels under 400 GT. Entry of vessels to the fleet will have to be balanced by the removal of tonnage without aid, in accordance with an entry/exit ratio. Where a vessel of over 100 gross tonnes built with grant aid enters the fleet, vessels equivalent to 135 per cent. of its tonnage must be removed;
	aid for modernising fishing vessels will be available only for vessels that are at least five-years-old to improve safety, product quality or working conditions, to switch to more selective fishing techniques, or to equip vessels with Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS); an increase in the maximum rate of EU scrapping grant was agreed, to help member states achieve the decommissioning of vessels whose fishing effort has to be reduced by 25 per cent. or more under the terms of a recovery plan;
	aid for the permanent transfer of EU vessels to third countries will cease at the end of 2004 and be subjected to conditions in the meantime;
	a range of improvements will be made to the coherence of enforcement and control arrangements and the imposition of sanctions, with the Commission taking a stronger monitoring and co-ordinating role and VMS being extended to vessels over 18 metres from 1 January 2004 and to vessels over 15 metres from 1 January 2005.
	On TACs and quotas, the Council started by examining a Commission proposal whose central element was severe cuts, equating to an 80 per cent. reduction in fishing mortality, in the TACs for the cod stocks for which scientists recommended a fishing moratorium, together with the species (haddock and whiting) most closely associated with them, as well as substantial TAC cuts for other associated species. A solution was negotiated under which higher TACs than proposed by the Commission were adopted alongside an emergency recovery measure for cod based on a much simplified approach which the Commission brought forward in the course of the Council.
	The recovery measure is incorporated as Annex XVII to the Regulation setting TACs and quotas for 2003, and will control effort from 1 February 2003 by limiting days which may be spent at sea by vessels which catch cod in the North Sea, West of Scotland and Skaggerak and Kattegat. Vessels under 10 metres in length are not subject to these controls. Different limitations (expressed as numbers of days absent from port per calendar month) are set according to the type of gear carried. Hence some vessels (eg pelagic trawlers) fall outside the scheme altogether, while nephrops vessels will be allowed 25 days per month. The number of days to be allowed for whitefish demersal trawlers was absolutely critical for the UK, given the unacceptable and devastating effect the Commission's opening suggestion of seven days per calendar month would have had on our industry. The eventual outcome was that we secured a commitment that under the terms of the various conditions attached to the limitations in the EU measure, UK whitefish demersal trawlers would be allowed a total of 15 days absent from port per month.
	The measure allows for some flexibility to move days between months and between vessels. The operational details for these new arrangements will be worked up urgently, in close consultation with the industry. The Council and Commission envisage that, with this emergency measure in place, a more sophisticated regime will be developed for implementation from 1 July 2003, based on proposals to be brought forward by the Commission by 15 February and agreed by the Council by the end of March.
	On this basis, the Council set TACs and quotas for 2003 which broadly maintain 2002 levels for pelagic stocks and nephrops but significantly reduce TACs for key whitefish species such as cod, haddock, whiting and anglerfish. Reductions of the order of 50 per cent. in the TACs for these latter species in the North Sea and West of Scotland represent a considerable gain in fishing opportunities compared with the Commission's original proposals, whilst significantly enhancing the prospects for the recovery of these stocks in the long term. The closure to sandeel fishing of the area off the north east British coast, as applied for the last three years, is renewed for 2003. For Irish Sea stocks, it was agreed that the 2002 cod recovery arrangements, which include a springtime closure of part of the Irish Sea, should continue for 2003 with reduced TACS for such stocks as cod, haddock and whiting.
	The Council agreed a re-allocation of existing Spanish structural funds to provide financial support to Spanish fishermen and mussel and oyster growers affected by the Prestige oil spill.
	The Council agreed the conclusions of the Commission's action plan for the Mediterranean, which envisages the development of specific management measures for the area.
	The Commissioner also presented a draft regulation on the management of fishing effort in western waters. He explained that he considered this to be necessary to eliminate any legal uncertainty concerning the applicability of some of the measures to the activities of Spanish and Portuguese vessels, following the expiry on 31 December 2002 of the transitional period foreseen in the 1985 Act of Accession. No decisions were reached on this proposal, which will be examined by the Council in coming months.
	The Council reached unanimous political agreement on measures to update food hygiene rules applying to products of animal origin. It also reached political agreement by qualified majority on measures to update EU rules on the use of additives in animal feed.
	The Council also agreed conclusions on animal welfare in third countries and on mutual assistance between member states regarding animal welfare. The Commission reported progress on developing further proposals on the protection of animals in transport.
	The Council was unable to reach agreement on a proposal for new rules governing feedstuffs for organic livestock. Under the relevant Comitology procedures, the Commission will adopt the new measure under its own powers in January. The Commission, having reported on the progress of its work to develop an EU level Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming, was remitted to continue its efforts and report further by the end of 2003.
	The Council approved by qualified majority arrangements to protect the EU market from a surge in low priced cereals from Russia and the Ukraine. The Commission reported agreements reached with the US and Canada to establish reduced tariff quotas for certain cereals and the Council authorised the Commission to implement the deal from the beginning of 2003.
	Over lunch, the Commission presented a paper which it proposes to submit to the WTO in the context of the Doha Round negotiations on agriculture. It proposed a number of specific reductions in tariff levels, export subsidies and domestic support. I welcomed the paper as an important first step in the process now leading up to the Cancun Ministerial meeting in September while warning that our negotiating partners were likely to press for a more ambitious outcome.
	Under other business, Germany reported national action it had taken to reduce levels of acrylamide in food; and Italy raised concerns over the co-existence of GM and conventional agriculture.

Animal Welfare

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 11 December; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments;
	(2)  how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 14 December; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks; and to where those sheep were taken; and what was the address of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Date Total animals Where consignments were certified Animals rejected at certification Animals rejected at Dover docks Destination 
		
		
			 11 December 2002 2,197 England, Scotland and Wales 14 1 France 
			 14 December 2002 2,854 England 0 0 Italy 
		
	
	The sheep for the consignments listed above were certified within 48 hours prior to export. The consignments that sailed on 11 December were fattening animals and were transported to holdings. The consignments that sailed on 14 December went to approved slaughterhouses. The animals which were rejected at certification and at Dover docks remained in Great Britain.

Animal Welfare

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent legislation ensures the protection of the welfare of animals during transport abroad; and what penalties can be imposed against those who break these regulations.

Elliot Morley: The welfare of animals during transport is protected by EU Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended, which is implemented and enforced by each member state within its own jurisdiction. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, as amended, implements the directive in Great Britain and a breach of the Order is punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding #5,000 (or #1,000 per animal if more than 10 animals are involved).

Bovine TB

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been slaughtered as a result of the Krebs' trial to investigate the relationship between badgers and bovine TB.

Elliot Morley: About 5,000 badgers have been culled in the course of the badger culling trial.
	Further information on the number of badgers culled is updated at the end of each culling season. Therefore, information on the number of badgers killed up to and during the 2002–03 season will be made available after the next closed season commences on 1 February.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government funding under European Union Public Aid rules will be given to areas of the United Kingdom affected by reductions in UK fishing effort.

Elliot Morley: Funding is already available on a regional level for economic development. The needs of fishing communities will be assessed in the light of the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2002, Official Report, column 193W, on fisheries, if she will calculate the total average number of days at sea multiplied by the total number of kilowatts of engine power for vessels in the under 10 metres sector capturing and landing cod in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Sea Areas (a) North Sea, (b) Irish Sea, (c) West of Scotland, Waters and (d) Area VIId.

Elliot Morley: Vessels in the under 10 metre sector of the UK fishing fleet are not obliged to submit European Community logbook declarations covering their fishing trips. These submissions are required in order for accurate days at sea information to be available for individual vessels. As such the raw data required to calculate the information requested is not available.

Flooding

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flooding studies were conducted by the Environment Agency in 1999; and of these studies, what recommended work (a) has been carried out and (b) remains to be carried out.

Elliot Morley: I understand that the Environment Agency conducted 262 flood defence feasibility studies during the 1999–2000 financial year. 166 works have been completed; 24 are under construction; 44 are to be carried out in the future and 28 were found to be unjustified.
	
		
			 Agency region Number of flood studies conducted Number of works carried out Number of works under construction Number of works to be carried out in the future Number that were unjustified 
		
		
			 Anglian 104 94 0 10 0 
			 Midlands 36 18 5 0 13 
			 North East 21 14 2 3 (2003–04) 2(2004–05) 0 
			 North West 9 3 3 3 0 
			 Southern 24 21 2 1 (dependent upon compensatory land acquisition) 0 
			 South West 22 9 0 9 (within the 3 year plan 2003–06) 2 (2 remain under consideration) 
			 Thames 27 7 12 0 8 
			 EA Wales 19 0 0 16 3

Flooding

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will provide flood insurance cover for those homes unprotected to the minimum standard of the Association of British Insurers from 2007.

Elliot Morley: The Association of British Insurers have stated that they will review the situation with Government on a regular basis. Insurance matters are for the Treasury, but there appear to be no grounds for Government intervention as insurance for flood risk is available to by far the majority of those properties situated on the floodplain. People must remember that the insurance industry is a competitive one and they may benefit from 'shopping around'.
	The nature of the risk in undefended areas means that insurers cannot guarantee to maintain cover, but will examine the risks on a case by case basis, use their best efforts to continue to provide cover and will work with the owners of domestic properties and small businesses which they currently insure to see what action could be taken by the property owner, the Environment Agency and the local authority, which might make the property insurable in some form. This action might include the use of accredited products, flood resilient materials and temporary defences to defend the property.

Flooding

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which of the areas affected by flooding in autumn 2000 the Government is recommending the removal of buildings on the flood plains.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides grant to local operating authorities for flood defence capital works that meet certain criteria. However responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities.
	The information requested is not readily available from all operating authorities. The Environment Agency advise that they are not aware of any specific proposals, following the autumn 2000 floods, to buy properties in the floodplain and remove them as the solution to flooding.
	However, some flood protection schemes involve property acquisition to allow defences to be built, and in some areas where effective flood alleviation is difficult then the long term solution may be relocation outside the flood risk area as buildings reach the end of their useful life.

Krebs Trial

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Krebs' trial is being carried out in 10 triplet sites as originally planned.

Elliot Morley: The Krebs trial is being carried out in 10 triplets as originally planned.

Late Payments

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy is of the Rural Payments Agency in respect of interest payable on late payments; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Government Departments and agencies of Government Departments are bound by the rules of Government accounting. In accordance with long established Government policy, compensation is not payable for delays in payment due to industrial action. Payment of compensation for delays in payment not due to industrial action are considered on their merits, provided that the payees own conduct has not contributed to the delay.
	In keeping with this policy the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will be making compensation payments, subject to a de minimus level of #50 per producer, to those producers who have experienced delays beyond the regulatory deadline of 30 June 2002, in receiving their 2001 scheme year bovine balance payments, as a result of failure by either the RPA or the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). Details are on the RPA website.

Milk Quotas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many milk quota holders there were in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many of those quotas were non-producing.

Elliot Morley: Details of the total number of quota holders for each year 1997–98 to 2001–02, and of those, the presumed number of non-producing quota holders (NPQHs), are contained in the table.
	The 'quota holders' figure for each year in the table is the number of permanent quota holders at the end of the quota year. It is considered that the most representative figures on NPQHs, prior to 1999, are the number of quota holders who have leased out a high proportion of their quota in any given year. The figures given in the last three columns in the table are thus for the number of permanent quota holders who leased out the percentages of their quota shown, and might therefore be assumed to be NPQHs. The corresponding figures for 2002–03 will not be known until after the end of the quota year.
	
		
			 Quota year Quota holders 100 per cent. 95 per cent. 91 per cent. 
		
		
			 1997–98 37,090 5,309 5,783 5,855 
			 1998–99 35,711 5,663 6,025 6,094 
			 1999–2000 34,663 6,181 6,556 6,621 
			 2000–01 33,106 5,778 6,412 6,529 
			 2001–02 31,605 6,099 6,792 6,937

Pigmeat

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total weight was of pigmeat sales in the United Kingdom in each year from 1972 to 2001.

Elliot Morley: Information on the quantity of pigmeat sold in the United Kingdom is not available. However, information is available on the amount of pigmeat supplies, in the form of pork, and of bacon and ham, in the United Kingdom, and this is given in the table.
	No data is available on the uses to which the supplies of pork and of bacon and ham are subsequently put. These uses may be for retail as meat or for catering or for foodstuffs which require further processing, some of which may subsequently be exported.
	More detailed production and supplies tables may be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/.
	
		UK supplies of pork and bacon -- 000 tonnes
		
			  Total new supply(19) of:  
			  Pork Bacon and ham 
		
		
			 19722 662 639 
			 1973 687 565 
			 1974 678 529 
			 1975 582 482 
			 1976 586 476 
			 1977 652 506 
			 1978 660 519 
			 1979 715 517 
			 1980 707 509 
			 1981 720 496 
			 1982 731 477 
			 1983 747 477 
			 1984 709 467 
			 1985 712 468 
			 1986 726 466 
			 19873 775 459 
			 1988 796 457 
			 1989 759 458 
			 1990 765 445 
			 1991 772 441 
			 19923 768 418 
			 1993 796 450 
			 1994 798 451 
			 1995 772 467 
			 1996 806 497 
			 1997 817 471 
			 19983 829 459 
			 1999 831 457 
			 2000 790 468 
			 2001 832 471 
		
	
	1 New supply: production plus imports less exports.
	2 Average of 1970–1972.
	3 For comparability with other years, the figures have been adjusted from a 53-week to a 52-week basis where appropriate.
	Sources
	1972–1984: 'A Hundred Years of British Food & Farming: A
	Statistical Survey', H F Marks.
	1984–2001: Defra

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Child Soldiers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to reduce the numbers of children involved in armed conflict, following the report by the UN Secretary General of 16 December on child soldiers.

Clare Short: The UN Secretary General's report covered many aspects of the problems of children affected by armed conflict, including their direct involvement. The most effective way to reduce the impact of armed conflict on children, their families and communities, is to prevent, reduce and resolve armed conflicts. My Department is working with other Government Departments to intensify UK efforts to resolve conflict. In relation to children affected by armed conflict, my Department is supporting UNICEF through a multi-year capacity-building project to increase its ability to work with all concerned to decrease the impact of armed conflict on children and to support the disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation of child soldiers. We have also been supporting the work of the Secretary General's special representative on children and armed conflict. UNICEF's work on establishing national immunisation days (NIDs), mentioned in the report, is also supported by my Department.

Côte d'Ivoire

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Côte d'Ivoire; what the Government's policy is on humanitarian aid to Côte d'Ivoire; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Precise information on the extent of humanitarian needs remains incomplete. Large numbers of people, particularly among immigrant communities but also Ivorian citizens and refugees, have been displaced due to the conflict. There are real humanitarian needs and the situation could deteriorate quickly with scope for further conflict. In December, as an initial response to immediate needs, we released 2,000 tents, 30,000 blankets and 200 rolls of plastic sheeting from our emergency relief stockpile to boost UNHCR's regional stockpile in Accra, Ghana; also contributed towards an urgent airlift of UNHCR relief items to Liberia. I have also recently approved a contribution of #1 million towards appeals from agencies working in Cote d'lvoire. We continue to monitor the humanitarian situation and are working closely with others in the international community to try to bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Committee for International Investment and Multinational Enterprises to consult with (a) NGOs and (b) others regarding the report of the UN Panel of Experts on the economic causes of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clare Short: The UK, along with other members of the Security Council, has asked for more information on the claims made in the panel's latest report. We have asked specifically for information on the allegations made against UK companies and nationals. We have yet to receive this material. Once we do we will take a view on what further action to pursue, both nationally and through OECD channels.

Eritrea

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the food aid requirements of Eritrea.

Clare Short: The Eritrean Government, the UN and NGOs estimate that the crop figure for 2002 is just over 50,000 MT, which is about 20 per cent. of an average annual crop.
	The Government's Appeal and the UN Consolidated Appeal, which was released on 19 November 2002, estimates that the drought-affected population is 1.4 million people out of a total population of 3.34 million. An additional 910,000 people are targeted for assistance comprising internally displaced people, returnees, soldiers to be demobilised and vulnerable urban dwellers. The Eritrean Government appealed for 477,000 MT of food aid for 2003, of which 290,000 is for the drought affected population.

Iraq

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what development projects her Department has supported in Iraq since the Gulf war in the rehabilitation of the country; and how much was financed for each project;
	(2)  what development projects her Department has supported in Iraq since the Gulf War for the rehabilitation of the country which have focussed on women and children; and how much was financed for each project.

Clare Short: Since 1991, my Department has provided funding solely for humanitarian assistance projects in Iraq. Total bilateral funding has amounted to just over #100 million. Several of the projects funded were specifically focused on women and children, although all the projects to some degree benefited women and children.
	Specific data on each project is not available, except at disproportionate cost. Total annual bilateral programme expenditure for Iraq for each financial year during this period was as follows:
	
		Programme Expenditure
		
			  # 
		
		
			  
			 1991/92 34,283,000; 
			 1992/93 4,135,000; 
			 1993/94 9,115,000; 
			 1994/95 7,654,000; 
			 1995/96 6,954,000; 
			 1996/97 6,282,000; 
			 1997/98 3,351,000; 
			 1998/99 5,749,000; 
			 1999/00 6,585,000; 
			 2000/01 9,545,000; 
			 2001/02 7,760,000

Ivory Coast

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UNHCR on refugees fleeing the Ivory Coast into Liberia.

Clare Short: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The UN launched an appeal on 11 November for humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict in Cote d'lvoire, including for support to Liberian refugees wishing to return home. We are still considering our response to the appeal.
	As an initial response we have provided 2,000 tents, 30,000 blankets and 200 rolls of plastic sheeting from our emergency relief stockpile to boost UNHCR's regional stockpile in Accra, Ghana. We have also contributed towards an urgent airlift of UNHCR relief items to Liberia.

Malawi

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had on the humanitarian situation in Malawi.

Clare Short: I remain in regular contact with my officials in Malawi about the humanitarian situation there. A recent UN assessment concluded that 2.2 million people are currently in need of food assistance. This will rise to 3.25 million—a third of the population—between now and March, after which the 2003 harvest will begin. So far, the rains have been good.
	DFID's emergency assistance to help deal with the food situation, now totals #34.5 million. This includes #4 million which I approved just before Christmas to support WHO/UNICEF disease surveillance and control, for supplementary feeding programmes and food distribution to people living in AIDS affected households.

Mozambique

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what potential there is for the replacement of maize by sorghum as the staple crop of southern Mozambique.

Clare Short: There has been a trend towards reintroduction of sorghum in southern Mozambique to promote resilience to drought. However, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently held a meeting that concluded that sorghum is not an ideal alternative to maize in southern Mozambique.
	Though sorghum resists drought a little bit better than maize, it is not a drought resistant crop, it is very labour intensive, has a long growing period and has high demands on soil fertility and moisture. Maize has also tended to experience steady market prices and an unlimited demand on the market as an export crop for Europe.
	The FAO meeting concluded that the best solution for southern Africa would be to identify patches with the right conditions for either maize or sorghum, and that the success of the introduction of any new crop will depend on the prevailing economic and marketing prospects.

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total UK aid to the Palestinian Authority was in each year since 1999.

Clare Short: The total UK aid to the Palestinian Authority in each year is:
	
		
			  # million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999–2000 8 
			 2000–01 9 
			 2001–02 14.5 
			 2002–03 15 (estimated outturn)

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent report by Catherine Bertini on the level of UK development funds allocated to Palestinians.

Clare Short: Catherine Bertini's report, and the subsequent UN Humanitarian Plan of Action, stimulated a very useful debate in the international community on how best to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. I agreed in October 2002 an additional #5 million DFID contribution to help meet most urgent needs of the Palestinian people. Total projected expenditure for support to Palestinians for this financial year is now #32 million. This comprises #15 million bilaterally and #17 million through UNRWA.

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what emergency funds are being made available by the UK to assist Palestinians impoverished by Israeli military actions.

Clare Short: We are providing support for a number of emergency programmes, including non-salary budgetary support, trauma counselling, special educational needs and UNRWA's emergency appeals. This year, out of estimated bilateral expenditure of #15 million, we anticipate that about #8 million will be for 'emergency' programmes. In addition, we have contributed #7 million to UNRWA's emergency appeal for 2002.

Palestine

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contributions her Department has made to assist UNRWA in its work with Palestinians in the Occupied Territories; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: UNRWA's needs are urgent, and it is critical to ensure that it receives consistent and predictable levels of support. The UK is UNRWA's second largest bilateral donor. In addition to our funding for UNRWA's regular budget—#42 million over the last three years—we have contributed over #20 million for UNRWA's emergency appeals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Peru

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department selected the agencies to oversee the (a) management and (b) distribution of the recent grant to the Department of Health in Peru.

Clare Short: The management agency for this programme has not yet been selected. A decision on the short-listed agencies will be taken by participating Peruvian institutions and DFID.

Zambia

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had on the humanitarian situation in Zambia.

Clare Short: The humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa was discussed at the 18 November meeting of the EU Council of Ministers. I have written to my counterparts in OECD countries urging them to give greater support to help relieve the humanitarian crisis in Zambia. The situation in Zambia is extremely serious with about 3 million people in need of assistance. The UK has provided over #14 million of assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis in Zambia since September 2001.

Zimbabwe

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what impact fuel shortages are having on the transportation of food aid in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: Fuel supplies have been erratic in Zimbabwe for the last three years. The problem is a direct consequence of economic mismanagement. Foreign exchange to pay for fuel is very scarce, yet it is still sold at controlled prices that do not cover costs.
	Larger organisations such as the UN and International NGOs, and other Government missions including DFID, have contracted to purchase fuel direct from importers at world-market rates and pay in foreign currency. The WFP has buffer stocks, some of which are in the rural areas and their feeding programmes are not likely to be seriously disrupted.
	Smaller organisations that rely on the commercial transport industry to distribute their food have been harder hit. However, these too are becoming more adept in covering short-term fuel problems, either through building up a reserve when fuel is available, or pre-positioning food supplies in rural areas. DFID's feeding partner organisations all pre-positioned food in the rural areas for the Christmas and new year period, and food distribution has continued.
	The short-term impact of fuel shortages has therefore been minimal to date.

Zimbabwe

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: The humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa was discussed at the 18 November meeting of the EU Council of Ministers. I have written to my counterparts in OECD countries urging them to give greater support to help relieve the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The situation in Zimbabwe is a disaster. Of the 15.5 million people in need of food in southern Africa, 6.5 million are in Zimbabwe. One in three adults in Zimbabwe are infected with HIV. The UK has provided #38 million of assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe since September 2001.

PRIME MINISTER

EU (Institutional Change)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made on the proposals for EU institutional change pursued in his joint letter with Chancellor Schröder of 25 February 2002; and what steps he will take to ensure that these targets of institutional change are reached.

Tony Blair: The European Council at Seville agreed a number of practical changes that do not require Treaty amendment but do improve the effectiveness and transparency of the Council. These are now in place. They focus on improving the practices of the European Council, reform of the General Affairs Council, delivering more openness when legislating on dossiers subject to co-decision, and rationalising the number of sectoral Council formations from 16 to 9. These changes have already led to more effective preparation of European Council meetings during the Danish Presidency.
	Heads of State and Government at Seville also agreed that the Council should consider further change in parallel with the Convention on the Future of Europe. The European Council at Copenhagen took note of a Presidency paper that set out possible models for Council reform. The Government will also continue to pursue these issues in the Convention.

EU Enlargement

Martin Smyth: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on the further extension of European Union membership into Eastern Europe and North Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The European Union Treaty stipulates that any European State which respects the principles set out in the Treaty may apply to become a member of the Union. In addition, applicants have to meet the Copenhagen criteria, which relate to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and protection of minorities, a functioning market economy with the capacity to withstand competitive pressure in the EU, and the ability to take on the obligations of membership.
	It is too early to say how far the EU might enlarge in the future. The EU has already recognised the countries of the Western Balkans as potential candidates. With UK support, the EU will be considering how it should further develop its relations with the countries to its east. The countries of North Africa are not European States.

EU Structure

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister to whom his speech of 28 November on the future structure of the European Union was distributed prior to delivery; and whether it has been presented to the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Tony Blair: My speech was not distributed outside Government prior to delivery. After the speech, the text was passed to interested parties including members of the Convention on the Future of Europe, and as usual it is available on the No. 10 website.

Turkey (EU Accession)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the European Council decision to postpone negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU; and what steps he plans to take to assist Turkey's accession.

Tony Blair: The Copenhagen European Council marked a step forward in Turkey's accession to the EU. It decided that if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.
	The new UK Action Plan for Turkey includes a wide range of bilateral reform initiatives, aimed at helping Turkey prepare for EU membership.

Written Constitution

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had on establishing a written constitution for the UK.

Tony Blair: None.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Security

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve security checks on aircraft users from non-UK based airlines, flying into the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The UK supports the principle of host state responsibility, whereby each state is responsible for the security of civil aircraft leaving that state. This is enshrined in Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention 1944.
	My Department liaises closely with international fora such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, European Civil Aviation Conference and the European Union to improve aviation security standards across the world. The UK has contributed to the development of EU regulations which are about to be published, making basic security standards mandatory in the Union. In addition, there is also close liaison with the US Transport Security Administration, the Israeli Security Agency and equivalent bodies of other key international partners on aviation security issues.
	Using the powers of the Aviation Security Act 1982, all non-UK carriers flying into the UK have been required since 11 November to ensure that all flight doors are locked while in UK airspace or on the ground while the engines are in operation, that the flight crew do not leave the flight deck other than for certain specified reasons, and that passengers cannot obtain access to the flight deck while in UK airspace.
	As regards UK carrier operations from overseas airports, my Department issues guidance on the recommended security measures that should be implemented where the threat to those operations dictates. Departmental inspectors have been undertaking a programme of visits to particular locations to assess the security afforded to and carried out by UK carriers and, where appropriate, liaise with the relevant authorities to improve standards. The frequency and coverage of these inspections has been stepped up significantly in recent months.
	My Department will shortly be establishing Regional Aviation Security Advisers in East Africa and the Middle East. Their role will be to advise and assist the relevant authorities to improve aviation security standards in those areas and to assess and influence how flights to the UK are secured. Further appointments are planned for West Africa, South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent later in the year.

Airport Capacity

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the outside consultancy firms which have been appointed to undertake work in connection with his consultation on airport capacity in the South East, together with (a) the tasks assigned and (b) the value of the contracts awarded in each case; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The following table lists the organisations that have carried out work on the South East and East of England Regional Air Services (SERAS) Study and have provided advisory support for the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation. Their areas of expertise are also indicated. The total cost of their work since the SERAS study began in January 2000 is approximately #5 million. This does not include NOP and Avia Solutions, as their costs cannot be broken down by region.
	
		
			 Organisation Area of expertise 
		
		
			 Civil Aviation Authority Noise, airspace 
			 Halcrow Fox SERAS managing consultants, wide range of appraisal work 
			 Ove Arup & Partners Airport optioneering, land use and urbanisation 
			 AEA Technology Air quality 
			 Scott Wilson New airport site search, environmental appraisal 
			 QinetiQ Climate change 
			 Crown Business Communications Event management 
			 Avia Solutions Response analysis 
			 NOP Questionnaire analysis 
			 NATS Air traffic control 
			 Booz Allen Hamilton New south east airport: airline development

Airport Capacity

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many people have responded to his consultation on the future of airport capacity in the south-east in the form of (a) petitions, (b) letters, (c) questionnaires and (d) detailed submissions;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the level of response which he has had to his consultation on airport capacity in the south-east.

David Jamieson: By 18 December, for the south-east region, 33 petitions, over 25,000 letters (including a number of detailed submissions from both members of the public and organisations), and 11,000 completed NOP questionnaires in response to the consultation had been received.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament on 28 November that the consultation on airports capacity will be kept open until we have consulted on options for new runways in relation to Gatwick. We aim to publish a further consultation document shortly.

Broadway-Honeybourne Railway

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that no developments prejudice the re-opening of the railway line between Broadway and Honeybourne; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This is a matter in the first instance for Wychavon district council as the local planning authority. I understand that a planning application has been made by SUSTRANS for a cycle track along a section of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway line which also extends into Cotswold district. This is for the authorities to determine and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to become involved in this local matter.
	As part of the planning application process, details of all developments close to railway lines (whether in use or disused) are referred to the Strategic Rail Authority who will comment as appropriate.

Certificates of Equivalent Competency

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many certificates of equivalent competency have been issued to foreign seafarers by the UK maritime administration in each year since the scheme was established.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued the following number of certificates of equivalent competency in each year since the scheme began in 1997:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 37 
			 1998 257 
			 1999 363 
			 2000 1,107 
			 2001 2,337 
			 2002 2,033

Commercial Aircraft (Terrorism)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of terrorist threats to British commercial aircraft from handheld ground to air missile launchers; and what advice has been issued by his Department.

David Jamieson: Terrorist threats are assessed on a continual basis and appropriate advice issued. The Government do not believe that it is appropriate to disclose advice issued in relation to such matters for obvious reasons.

Commercial Aircraft (Terrorism)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the British fleet of commercial aviation will be protected by electronic counter measures equipment over and above Goodrich video surveillance apparatus.

David Jamieson: We are seeking specialist advice to establish the technical feasibility of fitting electronic counter measures to UK civil aviation fleets.

Community Transport Schemes

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation he has received in respect of amending regulations relating to community transport schemes so as to facilitate their development.

David Jamieson: We have had several discussions with the Community Transport Association and the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers about the regulations affecting community transport.
	Regulations were brought forward in England, with effect from 1 May 2002, to extend the Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly Fuel Duty Rebate) to a wider range of community transport services. I understand that the National Assembly for Wales has introduced similar provisions with effect from 14 August 2002.
	In addition we have recently consulted on proposals (affecting both England and Wales) to facilitate the registration of flexibly routed bus services, which should increase the scope for community operators (among others) to register such services. We are now analysing the responses.

Community Transport Schemes

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions are in force for the exemption of community transport vehicles from vehicle excise duty when (a) they are used exclusively by disabled people and (b) they are used both by disabled and able bodied people.

David Jamieson: The provisions governing the exemption from vehicle excise duty for vehicles used by or on behalf of disabled people are set out in schedule 2 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Paragraph 20 of the schedule states that a vehicle used for the carriage of disabled people by a body recognised by the Secretary of State is exempt from vehicle excise duty. In practise this means that the body should be registered with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.
	However, section 15(2) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act states that where a vehicle is used in a way which would render it liable to taxation at a higher rate, the higher rate is payable. This means that where a vehicle is used for both disabled and able-bodied people, vehicle excise duty is payable at the normal rate applicable to that vehicle.

Concorde

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the life expectancy of Concorde is; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The service life of Concorde is a commercial decision, depending primarily on the rate of utilisation by the operator. The existing fatigue life of the aircraft can be extended by the operator carrying out an appropriate programme of modifications.

Consultants

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 30W, who the specialist consultants in event management were who were commissioned to identify suitable venues to organise the public exhibitions on the airport options; and what their fee was.

David Jamieson: holding answer 16 December 2002
	Crown Business Communications Ltd. were commissioned to organise the public exhibitions as part of the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom consultation. Their fee for doing this work was #127,752.

Cycleways

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet representatives of SUSTRANS to discuss protection of the trackbed of disused railway lines for possible re-opening when planning cycleways.

David Jamieson: The Department has a continuing dialogue with SUSTRANS on transport issues. On this issue it would be more appropriate for representatives of SUSTRANS to meet with the relevant officials of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Flying (DVT)

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what incentive airlines are offering their passengers to complete questionnaires on behalf of researchers involved in the WHO study into DVT and flying;
	(2)  how many seats on long haul flights airlines are offering free of charge to researchers to undertake clinical experiments on volunteers into the relationship between cabin atmosphere and the incidence of blood clotting as part of the WHO's study into DVT and flying;
	(3)  what help the researchers involved in the World Health Organisation's study into deep vein thrombosis and flying are getting from the airlines to obtain passenger lists of frequent flyers
	(4)  what co-operation researchers involved in the World Health Organisation's study into deep vein thrombosis and flying are receiving from airlines through the IATA medical group; and if he will make a statement
	(5)  what access researchers involved in the World Health Organisation's study into deep vein thrombosis and flying are getting to passengers on board aircraft through the IATA.

David Jamieson: This is primarily a matter between the airlines and the researchers carrying out the World Health Organisation's study into DVT and flying, but I understand that:
	(a) although the air travel costs of the researchers carrying out clinical studies have been included in the overall budget for the project, airlines have agreed to provide a number of seats free-of-charge on selected flights;
	(b) airlines, through the IATA Medical Advisory Group, are cooperating in a pilot study of frequent flyers in order to test the methodology for the full-scale epidemiological study;
	(c) for reasons of confidentiality airlines will not supply passenger details, but they have agreed to send out questionnaires to selected passengers and to forward the responses to the researchers;
	(d) the epidemiological studies to be carried out in the first phase of the WHO project do not require access to passengers on board aircraft; and
	(e) in order to maintain the integrity and the neutrality of the research the WHO decided that airlines should not be too closely involved with the study. For this reason they will not provide incentives to passengers.

Foreign Seafarers

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign seafarers have been employed on UK-registered merchant ships in each of the past five years.

David Jamieson: Employment of seafarers is a matter for shipping companies and the Department does not maintain records of the nationalities of seafarers employed on UK registered ships.
	In the past five years, 6,097 certificates of equivalent competency have been issued to foreign officers, and a further 10,574 have qualified for UK certificates of competency. These officers are eligible to serve on UK ships, although many serve on foreign registered vessels. (Most officers only apply for a certificate of equivalent competency when there is likelihood of employment on a UK ship).
	Some limited information is available from returns of companies entered in tonnage tax, but in most cases, this only covers the last two years and does not cover all UK registered ships.

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Minister in his Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list in his Department.

David Jamieson: I represent the Department for Transport on the Green Ministers' committee ENV(G). It is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
	Policy responsibility for rural proofing lies in the Department for Transport with Regional Transport Directorate.

Illegal Minicabs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many illegal minicabs have been stopped this year for (a) having no tax disc and (b) being unroadworthy; and what penalties were imposed;
	(2)  in what form and at what cost his Department, in conjunction with the Home Office, plan to advertise the undesirability of using illegal minicabs (a) this Christmas and New Year period and (b) next year.

David Jamieson: It is for local enforcement authorities (district/borough councils, unitary authorities or Transport for London) and the police to publicise the undesirability of using illegal minicabs and to deal with breaches in the law by their drivers. Records are not kept centrally.

Local Bus Services

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to increase the level of local bus services that are not profitable for bus operators.

David Jamieson: Decisions on subsidy for local bus services that are not provided on a commercial basis are for individual local authorities, taking account of local priorities and the resources available to them in Revenue support grant and, for example, from my Department's rural bus subsidy grant scheme. I am aware there have been a number of commercial services withdrawn recently in Worcestershire and that the county council has taken action to replace a number of these with subsidised services.

M20

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decibel level was predicted on the M20, junctions 8 and 9, at the time of the public inquiry prior to the construction of the motorway.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Mr. Tim Matthews to Mr. Hugh Robertson, dated 7 January2003:
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about noise levels on the M20 Motorway between Junctions 8 and 9.
	Regrettably, we no longer have the detailed records that were available at the public inquiry, which was held in 1986. The standard methodology used predicts noise levels based on the predicted volume of traffic together with other local factors.
	The factor not taken into account at that time was the effect of the concrete surface and the significance of this emerged as soon as traffic began to use it. We have tried to prevent the problem occurring elsewhere and mitigation, in the form of noise insulation and financial compensation, was made available to those adversely affected by this section of M20.
	The effects of the concrete surface on the M20 have been investigated along with 16 other roads built with this type of surface since 1988 and the Highways Agency is committed to resurfacing all of these as part of the Government's 10 Year Plan.
	If you would like further information in relation to noise issues on the M20 Motorway the Area Manager, Mark Kumar, at our Dorking office would be pleased to help you. His telephone number is 01306 878115.

Marine Surveyors

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many marine surveyors were employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the past five years.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have employed the following numbers of surveyors over the last 5 years.
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1998 160 
			 1999 160 
			 2000 149 
			 2001 157 
			 2002 162

Open Skies Agreement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the UK has to denounce the open skies agreement with the USA in accordance with the recent European Court of Justice judgment.

John Spellar: The UK does not have an 'open skies' agreement with the US. The ECJ judgment does not require the Government to renounce its bilateral air services agreement with the US, and the Government have no intention of doing so.

Port Developments

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received on proposed port developments at (a) Southampton, (b) Shell Haven, (c) Felixstowe and (d) Harwich.

David Jamieson: We have received a wide range of representations about these port developments, especially in respect of their potential impact on the environment, and public inquiries have either been held or have been announced in each of the cases.

Port State Control Inspections

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many port state control inspections were carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years; how many ships were detained; what percentage were found with deficiencies; and how many inspections of UK ships were undertaken in each of these years.

David Jamieson: The number of inspections carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years is as follows.
	
		Port state control inspections of foreign ships
		
			 Year Number of inspections Number of ships detained Percentage of ships with deficiencies 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,890 179 73.0 
			 1998–99 1,980 155 74.8 
			 1999–2000 1,801 106 72.2 
			 2000–01 1,803 116 70.1 
			 2001–02 1,765 118 68.8 
		
	
	
		UK inspections
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			  
			 1997–98 3,289 
			 1998–99 3,668 
			 1999–2000 3,616 
			 2000–01 4,367 
			 2001–02 4,383

Rail Passengers (Security)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure that there is clear responsibility and accountability for personal security design standards in new rolling stock to protect the public; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport and the Strategic Rail Authority are jointly engaged on a project to improve the on-train security of both passengers and train staff. The project will identify good practice for the building, refurbishment and management of railway passenger rolling stock.

Rail Passengers (Security)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research (a) has been carried out in the past five years and (b) is in hand to identify issues connected with passenger personal security and perceptions about their surroundings on the railways; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department is currently reviewing the personal security perceptions of public transport passengers, and has a joint project underway with the Strategic Rail Authority to improve the on-train environment for rail passengers and staff. We also undertook research three years ago to investigate the issues in developing a secure transport pilot route along the Manchester (Victoria) to Clitheroe rail route. As a result of this research, we are currently sponsoring a secure transport route co-ordinator to help implement the action plan to improve personal security. Analysing the perceptions of rail passengers has also been included in recent research projects to find out the transport needs of women, older people, and people from minority ethnic communities.
	The Secure Stations Scheme is a national accreditation scheme recognising set standards of good practice in rail station, staff and passenger security. An independent survey of passenger perceptions is undertaken as part of the station's application process.

Rail Passengers (Security)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to require future editions of the annual report, Railway Safety, to incorporate data and performance measures concerning the personal security of passengers during the year, and the outcomes of action taken.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) annual report on railway safety does not contain data and performance measures concerning the personal security of passengers. The HSE does not record this information because it is not a legal requirement of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR).

Rail Passengers (Security)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority that personal security is a key aspect of their responsibilities for safety; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority, first issued by the Secretary of State on 11 April, state that the Authority should seek to promote the personal security of passengers travelling by rail. It should promote improved personal security at stations by encouraging accreditation under the Secure Stations Scheme and the Secured Car Park Scheme. It should also work with appropriate bodies to improve personal security on pedestrian routes to stations.

Road Tax

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation has been undertaken of pilot schemes to allow local authorities to fine and remove vehicles without a valid road tax certificate; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The London Borough of Newham was the first local authority to take on devolved powers to clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles in partnership with DVLA.
	During the 12 months of the pilot scheme 2,000 vehicles were wheelclamped. Half of these vehicles were released upon payment with the result that these vehicles are now correctly registered.
	Surveys undertaken by Newham council before and at the end of the pilot scheme showed the level of evasion had reduced by 15per cent., the result of additional and visible enforcement in the borough.

Sandy-Bedford rail link and Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link.

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of changes to the annual net level of CO2 emissions in the United Kingdom that would result from the operation of (a) the Sandy-Bedford rail link and (b) the Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the level of (a) lottery grant (b) landfill grant, and (c) other public money that would need to be made available to (i) bring into operation and (ii) maintain each year (A) the Sandy-Bedford rail link and (B) the Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of (a) the volume of freight that could be carried by and (b) the number of passengers who would use (i) the Sandy-Bedford rail link and (ii) the Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link each year.

David Jamieson: The Sandy-Bedford rail link and the Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link are possible schemes that have been considered within the London-South Midlands multi-modal study. The consultants are expected to report next month and will include an assessment of the impact on CO2 levels for the preferred strategy across the study area as a whole. The three regional planning bodies whose areas the study relates to will then consider the recommendations of the study and pass their advice to Ministers. We would expect to announce our decisions on the study recommendations in the spring or summer of this year.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of speed cameras in reducing (a) speed and (b) accidents.

David Jamieson: Speed enforcement cameras have proved to be highly effective at reducing speeding and crashes when placed at sites or along routes with a history of speed related crashes. In the first year of the safety camera pilot scheme the number of those killed and seriously injured has been reduced on average by 47 per cent. at camera sites. A full two year report of the cost recovery system for the eight pilot areas in the safety camera scheme will be published shortly, and will be made available in the Library.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how many speeding motorists have (a) been caught as a result of speed cameras and (b) caused accidents by sudden reduction of speed on approaching speed cameras in the last three years.

David Jamieson: (a) The most recent year for which data are available is 2000. In 2000 733,500 drivers were either prosecuted or fined for speeding as a result of detection by camera in England and Wales. In 1999 and 1998 the numbers were respectively 498,600 and 403,800.
	(b) There is no evidence that accidents are caused by motorists suddenly reducing speed at camera locations.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have been held with other relevant departments about the (a) guidelines for siting of and (b) design and visual acceptability of speed cameras.

David Jamieson: Guidelines on camera deployment are contained in Circular Roads 1/93 that was subject to the normal consultation process. Where areas net off, additional guidelines and rules are in place. These have been approved by Ministers in consultation with the Safety Camera Project Board consisting of representatives of relevant Government Departments, the police and local authorities.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many residents near and adjacent to speed cameras were consulted about the positioning of each camera on average in the last year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: No information is held centrally about the number of local residents that may have been consulted because there is no requirement to consult local residents on the positioning of speed cameras.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure is in place for consulting residents about siting of speed cameras.

David Jamieson: There is no requirement to consult local residents on the siting of speed cameras. Highway authorities have powers under the Highways Act 1980 section 95 (A) to install and maintain on or near a highway structures and equipment for the detection of traffic offences. This includes speed camera housings and the camera equipment within.

Speed Cameras

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras have been erected with authorisation by the Highways Agency.

David Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Speed Cameras (Residential Areas)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what redress is available to residents whose homes are situated adjacent to speed cameras which they deem visually unacceptable.

David Jamieson: Fixed site speed cameras are structures and equipment for the detection of traffic offences. As such highway authorities have powers under the Highways Act 1980 section 95(A) to install and maintain speed cameras on or near a highway. Any resident concerned about the visual presence of camera installations may make representations to the highway authority concerned.

STCW 95 Convention

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many seafarers have been detected by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to be in breach of the STCW 95 Convention requirements since February 2002.

David Jamieson: Inspectors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency recorded 437 breaches of the STCW Convention between 1 February 2002 and 18 December 2002. Some of these breaches are recorded in relation to ships rather than individual seafarers.

Strategic Rail Authority (Consultants)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the technical and financial consultants employed by the Strategic Rail Authority, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of each contract.

David Jamieson: The following table relates to contracts over #25,000 that have been awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority since April 2002.
	
		
			 Consultant Project Contract value (#) 
		
		
			 AEA Technology BR research report provision Less than 50,000 
			 AEA Technology Study into why operational performance has failed to recover to pre Hatfield levels 240,000 
			 AEA Technology ELL Provision of timetable validation study Less than 50,000 
			 AEA Technology Project Radar Less than 50,000 
			
			 Arups Market study of coal market Less than 50,000 
			 Arups Merseyrail franchise replacement programme 57,000 
			 Arups Joint working with Railtrack 55,000 
			 Arups West Coast route modernisation—Rolling stock investigation 69,000 
			 Arups Infrastructure project work 71,900 
			 Arups WARM (E) project Less than 50,000 
			
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Transport Appraisal Services for ELL 76,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Demand and economic analysis Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton West Midlands rail strategy next steps 80,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Capacity to utilisation strategy 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Strategic Plan economic analysis Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Due diligence of Railtrack and CLG bus plan 234,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton ECML Project support services Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton High Speed Interoperability management 464,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton ITL 2000 risk manager Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Scotrail technical advice 130,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton ECML Rolling Stock strategy definition Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton West Coast route modernisation—project Less than 50,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton VGR negotiations 55,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Baseline 3 analysis 146,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Tools for capacity utilisation analysis 130,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Virgin trains franchise negotiation 1,100,000 
			 Booz Allen & Hamilton Development of database for route specification and strategic modelling 243,000 
			
			 Bovis Project management services (small works) 650,000 
			 Bovis Technical advice on Chiltern replacement Less than 50,000 
			 Bovis ECML support services 275,000 
			 Bovis Freight project management 137,000 
			 Consolidated communications Benchmarking exercise 56,000 
			
			 EC Harris Felixstowe—Nuneaton commercial assistance Less than 50,000 
			 EC Harris Project baselining 2 Less than 50,000 
			
			 Fluor Project baselining RFP 75,000 
			 Fluor Review of RPI costs and risk management for infrastructure 75,000 
			
			 Jacobs Gibb Consultancy Support for Mark 1 rolling stock Less than 50,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Business Case manual Less than 50,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Greater Anglia replacement 100,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb T2000 LTS preparation and other CLRL tasks 50,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Thames Trains franchise extension technical support 51,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Joint working with Railtrack 50,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Capacity utilisation 130,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb Mrk 1 strategic reserve vehicles Less than 50,000 
			 Jacobs Gibb The impact of crossrail on the national rail network 128,000 
			
			 Jarvis Facilities Ltd. Feasibility Study re mauchline remodel 88,000 
			
			 KPMG National Express Work Less than 50,000 
			 KPMG Virgin Rail Ltd. scope review 150,000 
			 KPMG Financial advisers for Virgin Rail Group Negotiations 367,000 
			 KPMG WCML Review implementation, scope and costs 191,000 
			 KPMG Central trains extension 180,000 
			 KPMG CSE Financial adviser 160,000 
			 KPMG West Anglia Route modernisation project 92,000 
			 KPMG Franchise replacement programme and strategy 100,000 
			 KPMG Strategic planning process 84,000 
			 KPMG ISWT replacement project 200,000 
			 KPMG Project Tide 50,000 
			 KPMG Financial adviser to Scottish passenger rail franchise relet 958,000 
			 KPMG Due Diligence—Transpennine express 130,000 
			 KPMG Northern Franchise accountancy advice 100,000 
			 KPMG Review of TOC Franchise replacement 50,000 
			 KPMG East London Line financial modelling services 55,000 
			 KPMG East London Line Corporate and project finance advice 60,000 
			
			 Lazards1 Project Ariel, SPVs and enhancements 3,000,000 
			
			 LEK Case for rail freight 50,000 
			 LEK Policy evaluation of track access grant Less than 50,000 
			 LEK Review of freight performance regimes 60,000 
			 LEK Freight performance 75,000 
			 LEK Conventional interoperability 168,000 
			 LEK Financial advisers Northern 650,000 
			
			 MDS Transmodal Innovation competition Less than 50,000 
			
			 Mott McDonald Transport Modelling Services for ELL 125,000 
			 Mott McDonald West Anglia Route modernisation 70,000 
			 Mott McDonald Cherwell Valley re-signalling project Less than 50,000 
			 Mott McDonald Value of Rail studies 89,000 
			 Mott McDonald Appraisal of PLANET models Less than 50,000 
			 Mott McDonald Regeneration impacts of changes in rail services Less than 50,000 
			 Mott McDonald Asset management survey desk top study ELL 220,000 
			 Mott McDonald CSE 2003 budget review Less than 50,000 
			
			 Mouchel Central railway demand forecast review 200,000 
			 Mouchel Interchange funding 100,000 
			 Mouchel Central Railway growth and strategic fit 97,000 
			 Mouchel Interchange funding 150,000 
			
			 NERA Due Diligence work for CLG 373,000 
			 NERA Due Diligence work for CLG (appendix B) 51,000 
			 NERA Management and remuneration advice 193,000 
			
			 Nichols Review of Thames Trains financial information and projections 85,000 
			 Nichols Mark 1 Rollingstock project support team 490,000 
			 Nichols Freight project management 133,000 
			 Nichols TL 2000 Blockade project management Less than 50,000 
			 Parsons Brinkerhoff ELL value engineering facilitation Less than 50,000 
			
			 PKF Reporting accountant Scottish passenger rail franchise relet 114,000 
			 PKF Reporting accountant Wales and Borders 160,000 
			 PKF British Transport Police audit plan 120,000 
			 PKF SRA audit plan 78,000 
			
			 Pricewaterhousecoopers IRT open book audit Less than 50,000 
			 Pricewaterhousecoopers Review of financial models in freight grants 50,000 
			 Pricewaterhousecoopers Project support for TL2000 work 1,300,000 
			 Pricewaterhousecoopers Thames Trains extension 129,000 
			 Pricewaterhousecoopers ITL2002 project support 450,000 
			
			 Steer Davies & Gleave Review of International rail services 70,000 
			 Steer Davies & Gleave Modelling and strategic review of rail industry 75,000 
			 Steer Davies & Gleave Review of international services 50,000 
			
			 Symonds Business case review of freight interchange Less than 50,000 
			
			 UK accreditation service Assessment of notified bodies 130,000 
			
			 WS Atkins Thames Trains extension 51,000 
			 WS Atkins Production of regional freight strategies Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins Newco-Immerys FFG: Port of secondary aggregates scheme Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins Review FFG application for McAlpine slate waste project Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins Proposed development of Mossend Eurotunnel Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins Regional Strategies 100,000 
			 WS Atkins Mersey docks—Birkenhead Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins High Speed Line study (Trent Valley upgrade) Less than 50,000 
			 WS Atkins ECML (upgrade) Development Business Transport Case 175,000 
			 WS Atkins Development of business case for Kings Cross expansion 120,000 
			 WS Atkins ELLEP digital mapping 67,000 
			
			 WSA Island line infrastructure 60,000 
		
	
	1 Annual equivalent

Wyre Piddle Link Road

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what central Government funding is available to assist in the construction of the western Wyre Piddle link road.

David Jamieson: The local transport capital expenditure settlement announced on 10 December provides #13.9 million for Worcestershire for 2003–04, including #1 million in respect of the proposed Chadbury-Twyford link road east of the Wyre Piddle bypass. The Wyre Piddle bypass has itself received funding of #5.9 million and is nearing completion. It is for Worcestershire county council as the local highway authority to consider whether the western Wyre Piddle link road is a priority within their local transport plan and for any future transport settlement.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Housing

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reform the planning system in such a way as to promote the supply of good quality affordable housing.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is fundamentally overhauling the planning system to make it more effective overall. Proposals for reform were set out in last July's planning policy statement XSustainable Communities: delivering through planning", and we introduced into Parliament in December the XPlanning and Compulsory Purchase" Bill. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish early this year how it intends to achieve a step-change in building successful, thriving communities with affordable homes.

Boundary Committee

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether ministerial guidance to the Boundary Committee acting under the proposed Regional Assemblies Act will allow for the creation of unitary authorities with a population of less than (a) 100,000 and (b) 50,000.

Christopher Leslie: It will be for the Boundary Committee to decide on the size and number of unitary authorities it recommends in a local government review, having regard to any Guidance issued. The draft of the Guidance, on which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting, indicates that in the Government's view the Boundary Committee will need to consider the impact of size on the organisational and managerial capacity of an authority in the context of the most appropriate unitary authorities for an area being those best able to deliver quality services and effective community leadership.

Business Improvement Districts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what input will be expected from private landlords in the business improvement districts.

Tony McNulty: Clause 45 of the Local Government Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 25 November, allows private landlords to make voluntary financial contributions to the business improvement district in their local area.
	As we set out in our White Paper Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services XProperty Owners have a key role to play in BIDs. But there are significant practical difficulties in extending the levy to property owners, outside the rating system. This would, in effect, be a new tax on property ownership. The Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister therefore intends to build voluntary contributions, already substantial in many existing projects, into the model for BIDs in England. This would be done through the guidance rather than the legislation. This will encourage BID partnershipsto involve property owners from the start so that they can participate in the development and the implementation of BID proposals."

Fire Dispute

Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 702W, if he will place in the Library e-mails containing information given by his officials to the Fire Service Employers since the beginning of 2002 regarding the pay dispute with the Fire Brigades Union.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is withholding this information under exemption 2 (internal Discussion and Advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on the basis that the release would be prejudicial to ongoing negotiations.

Fire Dispute

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the timetable for the publication of the fire cover review pathfinder document.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to my Hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, Lynne Jones, on 7 January 2003, Official Report.

Fire Dispute

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the pathfinder review of the fire service.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, (Lynn Jones), on 7 January 2003, Official Report.

Fire Dispute

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely impact of a reduction in fire personnel during night hours on the number of (a) deaths and (b) injuries resulting from fire.

Nick Raynsford: The final report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service puts forward a series of common sense reforms which will lead to a better service, to a safer service, and to a service which saves more lives. These include the recommendation that the service should move to a system of targeted (or risk based) fire cover, based on a careful, professional assessment of the real risk of incidents in the each local area.
	Risk based fire cover is not about cutting fire stations or firefighters. Risk based fire cover is about making sure that local fire service resources-fire engines, fire stations and firefighters-are in the right place at the right time to respond to community fire needs.
	The Government will produce a White Paper on the fire service in the spring in order to fulfil our part of the programme of modernisation. The White Paper will set out in detail the legislative and other changes required to modernise the fire service.

Pathfinder Report

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council will consider the Pathfinder report.

Nick Raynsford: The Fire Cover Review Task Group agreed the text of its final report at the end of September 2002. The Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council was due to consider the report in the autumn, but no meetings were held because of the on-going pay dispute. The Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council is therefore due to consider the report at a future meeting.

Pathfinder Report

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the Pathfinder review of the fire service.

Nick Raynsford: A copy of the draft Report of the Task Group on the Fire Cover Review1—also known as the report of the Pathfinder trials—was placed on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website on 20 December 2002.
	1 URL: www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/fire/fepd/fcr/fcrhome.htm

Housing (Black and Minority Ethnic People)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission research into the concerns raised in the DTLR (Housing Directorate) Action Plan, addressing the needs of BME people, on the impact of the kinds of properties sold under the right to buy on BME families.

Tony McNulty: This will be considered for inclusion in next years Office of the Deputy Prime Minister housing research programme.

Housing (Health and Safety)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has (a) to license houses in multiple occupation and (b) to introduce a new housing, health and safety system.

Tony McNulty: As announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government intend to publish a draft Housing Bill this session. The Bill will make clear our commitment to introduce the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation and to replace the existing housing fitness regime with the evidence-based Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Taken together, these measures will target poor property condition and management standards in the parts of the housing market that accommodate some of the most vulnerable in our society.

Housing Consultants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what regulations are in place to evaluate (a) the quality of housing need and (b) the house condition assessment provided to councils by consultancies.

Tony McNulty: Robust information on housing need and stock condition is essential to the effective delivery of local authorities' housing strategic and landlord roles. The quality of this information is addressed in the annual scrutiny of authorities' housing strategies and housing revenue account business plans carried out by Government offices and will also be covered in some of the Housing Inspectorate's best value inspections. Detailed guidance is available to authorities on issues to be considered in commissioning housing need and stock condition surveys and in the use of the data obtained.

Housing Need

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of housing need is in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK.

Tony McNulty: Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing register (excluding tenants awaiting a transfer) as at 1 April in their annual housing investment programme returns. The latest reported information, for 2002, is as follows:
	Coventry City Council 7,104
	West Midlands Government Office Region 95,000
	England 1,093,300 For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friends the Members for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs Liddell) and Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr Reid).

Open Spaces

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government is taking to provide additional funding to local authorities to improve the standard of public open spaces.

Tony McNulty: The Government set out its vision for improving the standard of public open spaces in the report "Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener', published on 31 October. Living Places set out a number of ways in which the Government are already offering support, including financial, to local authorities, as well as other delivery agencies, so that they can better manage and maintain high quality public spaces.
	In addition Living Places also contained a package of measures specifically aimed at urban green spaces. In particular the Government recognises the need for better use of existing support and to attract new resources for urban parks and green spaces. We will be working closely with relevant Government Departments, agencies and the new CABE Space unit to address this issue.

Rented Accommodation (Overcrowding)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to modernise legal standards relating to overcrowding in rented accommodation.

Tony McNulty: As the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 612W, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering whether overcrowding-including in rented accommodation-is best tackled through a more modern set of standards or through the new Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), on which the office hopes to legislate when Parliamentary time allows. Provisions to introduce HHSRS will form part of the Housing Bill which we intend to publish in draft during this session.

Sheltered Housing

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many extra-care sheltered housing places were available in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001; how many are expected to be available in 2005; and what information he has collated on the waiting times for places in such schemes.

Tony McNulty: Information on sheltered, or extra care housing was collected for Housing Investment Programme purposes until 2000. The number of very sheltered housing places was 18,041 in 1997 and 20,269 in 2000. Up to date figures will shortly be available from the supply mapping exercise undertaken by local authorities as part of the preparations for supporting people.
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) has announced a target of increasing the levels of extra care provision by 50 per cent. on 1997 levels by 2006. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will work to ensure that the number of places available in 2005 is at least in line with this target.
	No information is collected centrally on waiting times for places in extra care schemes and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Medical Students

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many medical students left their medical courses early in each of the last five years

Margaret Hodge: Information on non-completion rates for higher education students broken down by subject is not held centrally. For full-time first degree students who began their studies in 1999/00, the overall non-completion rate for the UK was estimated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to be 17 per cent. the second lowest rate in the OECD.

Medical Students

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the gender balance is in the intake of medical students.

Margaret Hodge: The latest available information is shown in the table.
	
		Accepted applicants via UCAS to full-time courses in pre-clinical medicine Autumn 2001 entry HE Institutions in the UK
		
			  Numbers Percentage 
		
		
			 Men 2,559 41 
			 Women 3,681 59 
			 Total 6,240 100

Academic Staff (Universities)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many academic staff are employed by UK universities; and how many are of ethnic minority origin.

Margaret Hodge: The latest available data are shown in the table.
	
		All academic staff1 in UK higher education institutions 2000–01
		
			 Ethnicity Number 
		
		
			  
			 White 111,012 
			 Black Caribbean 457 
			 Black African 759 
			 Black other 264 
			 Indian 2,010 
			 Pakistani 460 
			 Bangladeshi 148 
			 Chinese 2,800 
			 Asian other 1,405 
			 Other 2,666 
			 Total known ethnicity 121,981 
			 Not known 17,959 
			 Total all 139,940 
		
	
	1 Full-time and part-time staff; covers staff whose primary employment is teaching, research, or teaching/research.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 19 December 2002
	This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	Any expenditure incurred is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which is based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Development Plans

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how agreements between the LSC and each college will be reached for the three year development plan; who will advise whether the targets set are realistic for an individual FE college; and what support will be offered to those FE colleges who receive less funding as a result of failing to attain their targets.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 December 2002
	From September 2003, colleges will agree a three year development plan, including challenging improvement targets, with the LSC. The LSC will agree targets with each college, drawing on benchmarking data and an assessment of individual capacity to improve. The LSC will consult with colleges at the end of January on the structure of the new development plans, and the detail of how targets would be agreed and how performance will be measured. Guidance on the new arrangements will be published in May 2003.
	The LSC will give practical help for colleges to support them in improving their performance and offer financial support where this is needed from the special investment and intervention fund.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals he has to change the method of calculating entitlement to educational maintenance allowance for students whose parents live apart.

Margaret Hodge: We have gained useful experience through running the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilots. In light of this, when the scheme is extended to all areas in England in September 2004, there will be changes to the income assessment. This will no longer take account of the income of a parent who lives apart from the young person. Instead, the assessment will be based on household income and follow the same principles used by the Inland Revenue for calculating entitlement to the new tax credits.

Educational Attainment Levels

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the educational attainment of school children in current and former coalfield areas compared with the national average in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The information required on the educational attainment of 15-year-old pupils in current and former coalfield areas is given in the table:
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils attaining 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ
		
			  2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 
		
		
			 Coalfields—maintained schools 41.5 40.0 38.9 36.4 36.3 
			 England—maintained schools 47.9 47.1 45.7 43.8 42.5 
			 England—all schools 50.0 49.2 47.9 46.3 45.1 
		
	
	Note:
	The definition of a coalfield area taken from the coalfields task force report, June 1998, is: a ward where 10 per cent. of resident males in employment at the time of the 1981 census of population were engaged in the energy and water sector. In these areas, this sector overwhelmingly comprises coalmining.
	The information required on the educational attainment of seven, 11 and 14-year-old pupils in current and former coalfield areas is currently not available for the period requested. Achievement in coalfields areas for the whole period will be available in the new year as part of the Government-wide neighbourhood statistics project being co-ordinated by the Office for National Statistics. Once available the Department will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Exam Markers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of recruiting additional exam markers, following the recommendation of Mike Tomlinson's final report into A-levels.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 3 December that up to #6 million would be made available to deliver the 2003 examinations securely, the money to be spent in the main on ensuring that the necessary markers can be recruited. QCA are undertaking detailed costing work with the awarding bodies and further advice is awaited.

FE Colleges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there will be a ceiling to increases in funding for FE colleges that continually exceed their targets; and whether the premium rate of funding increase will be reduced as more FE colleges exceed their targets.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 December 2002
	We want to see a continuing incentive for colleges to continually improve and we are working with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on the detailed proposals for the future funding of further education colleges. The strategy document XSuccess for All" sets out our intention that excellent colleges, which exceed their targets, enjoy a 3.5 per cent. real terms increase in each of 2004–05 and 2005–06 with no ceiling. This premium rate of increase will not change in those years as the percentage of colleges eligible grows.

GCSE (Performing Arts)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice his Department has received from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority regarding the introduction of a GCSE in performing arts and related disciplines.

David Miliband: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been asked by the Department to begin work on the development of additional titles for new GCSEs in vocational subjects. Advice is awaited on the range of possible titles, and timings for implementation.

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Minister in his Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list in his Department.

Stephen Twigg: I have Ministerial responsibility for Green Issues and represent my Department on the Ministers' committee ENV (G). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills is not a member of ENV (G).
	Policy responsibility for rural proofing in my Department lies with Strategy and Communications Directorate.

Higher Education

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) A-level and (b) non A-level students entered higher education in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The latest available information is given in the table. Figures for 2002 will be available in January 2003.
	
		Accepted applicants via UCAS to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in theUK(19)
		
			  Year of entry  
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Entry qualification:  
			 2 or more A levels 183,123 181,459 183,852 185,348 193,536 
			 Scottish Highers 16,641 16,421 16,823 17,106 17,899 
			 All other qualifications(20) 103,554 100,340 102,390 106,267 114,037 
			 Total 303,318 298,220 303,065 308,718 325,472 
		
	
	(19)— Covers UK domiciled students.
	(20)— Including students with GNVQs, BTEC, Access and Foundation courses, degree credits, and a small number with no qualifications.

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of higher education students in 1997 completed their courses; and what the proportion was in each subsequent year for which information is available.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the completion rates of HE students is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in XPerformance Indicators in HE". The latest available data are shown in the table. Figures published recently showed that the UK has one of the lowest non-completion rates in the OECD.
	
		Projected Learning Outcomes Full-time Students Starting First Degree Courses in UK HE Institutions
		
			  Projected Outcomes(21)  
			 Students starting in Obtained degree percentage Obtained no qualification percentage Other(22) percentage 
		
		
			 1996/97 80 18 2 
			 1997/98 81 17 2 
			 1998/99 81 17 2 
			 1999/00 81 17 2 
		
	
	1 The projected outcomes are calculated on the assumption that the progression paths of new entrants will be the same as those for students currently in the system.
	2 Includes students who obtain undergraduate qualifications other than a degree (e.g an HMD).

Higher Education Student Profiles

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on participation rates broken down by socio-economic class of parents of higher education students in each year since 1990.

Margaret Hodge: The latest available information is shown in the table. The sharp rise in participation rates in the early 1990s reflects the expansion of the higher education sector during these years. There was an increase in entrant numbers in 1997 related partly to the funding arrangements for higher education, with students choosing to enter HE rather than wait until 1998. There was a corresponding reduction in 1998 before the entry rates started to increase again in 1999.
	The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent family backgrounds, and has introduced Excellence Challenge, including the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.
	
		Participation1 in Higher Education by Social Class—Great Britain Percentages
		
			  Academic year beginning:  
			 Social class 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 
		
		
			 I Professional n/a 55 71 73 78 80 
			 II Intermediate n/a 36 39 42 45 46 
			 IIIN Skilled non manual n/a 22 27 29 31 31 
			 IIIM Skilled manual n/a 11 15 17 18 18 
			 IV Partly skilled n/a 10 14 16 17 17 
			 V Unskilled n/a 6 9 11 11 12 
			 I-IIIN 37 35 40 43 46 47 
			 IIIM-V 10 11 14 16 17 17 
			 All classes 19 23 28 30 32 32 
		
	
	
		
			  Academic year beginning  
			 Social class 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 I Professional 82 79 72 73 76 
			 II Intermediate 47 48 45 45 48 
			 IIIN Skilled non manual 32 31 29 30 33 
			 IIIM Skilled manual 18 19 18 18 19 
			 IV Partly skilled 17 18 17 17 19 
			 V Unskilled 13 14 13 13 14 
			 I-IIIN 48 48 45 45 48 
			 IIIM-V 18 18 17 17 18 
			 All classes 33 33 31 32 33 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	1 Measured by the Age Participation Index (API), which is defined as the number of UK domiciled under 21 initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses expressed as a proportion of the averaged 18–19 year old population.

Innovation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what applications have been made for exemptions related to innovation under the Education Act 2002; and in each case (a) when the application was made, (b) what decision has been reached and (c) what his grounds were for that decision.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The Department has received one application under section 2 of the Education Act (the 'power to innovate'). Langley Junior School applied on 7 November 2002 to gain exemption from the Changing of School Session Times Regulations 1999. The application has been approved because it will enable the school to create time for a curriculum enrichment session for pupils, and planning, preparation and assessment time for teachers. The Power to Innovate was needed to enable the school to implement the changes sooner than the start of the new school year (as required by regulations). We are expecting to receive many more inquiries and applications as this new power becomes known.

Language Teaching

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what range of languages are included within the Government's plans to make foreign language learning standard in primary education.

Stephen Twigg: The entitlement for all pupils to study languages at Key Stage 2 must include one of the working languages of the European Union. It will be for schools to decide which European Union language is chosen. Over and above that, it is for schools to decide which and how many languages they choose to offer. Schools may decide for example to offer one main language, or one or two main languages and additional 'taster' sessions in other languages. In addition, by drawing in foreign language speakers, such as parents, those in the community and in business, schools will be in a position to offer and promote a much wider range of languages than has been possible before.

Language Teaching

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional IT resources he will provide to assist primary schools in the development of language teaching at key stage 2.

Stephen Twigg: A total of #710 million has been made available to schools in England through the ICT in Schools Standards Fund over the 2002–04 financial years. This funding is targeted to improve schools' ICT infrastructure and connectivity. It is for individual LEAs to decide how the funding is distributed to schools in line with their ICT development plans.
	An additional #30 million has been distributed to schools in September 2002 in the form of eLearning Credits (eLCs) for the sole use of buying certified curriculum online digital learning products. A further #20 million will be distributed in April 2003.
	We will continue to work with public and private sector providers to increase provision, raise the quality and widen the range of online teaching and learning materials. The new curriculum online service will facilitate teacher access to high quality electronic materials across the curriculum and will stimulate the development of materials for languages as well as for other subjects. There are also many online and offline ICT resources already available for teachers, including the British Educational SoftwareDatabase and the National Grid for Learning website. The Department is currently considering other ways of using ICT to support the teaching and learning of Modern Foreign Languages at Key Stage 2.

Learning and Skills Council

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the common funding approach to be adopted by the Learning and Skills Council for 2003–04 and subsequent years.

Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is establishing a common funding approach for 2003–04 for further education, work-based learning, and school sixth forms. This replaces the previous separate funding arrangements for these three sectors. Adult and community learning will be brought progressively into the common funding approach as far as appropriate.
	The main principle of the common funding approach is that funding must follow the learner. It is built on the best elements of the former Further Education Funding Council's national system of formula based funding. The key elements of this system include funding elements for the basic costs for delivering all programmes, the extra costs for specialist programmes, learner achievement, extra support for disadvantaged learners, and higher costs for delivering provision in London and related areas.
	The LSC National Council has set up a Funding Group to consider future development of the common funding approach, including simplification of funding arrangements in response to the recommendations of the Bureaucracy Task Force. The LSC will take account of the XSuccess for All" strategy document and the forthcoming Government statements on 14–19 learning and on the Review of Funding of Adult Learning. We will ensure that the outcome and implications are clear for school sixth forms, colleges and other providers of further education and training.

Public Schools

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to review the charitable status given to public schools; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Cabinet Office report, XPrivate Action, Public Benefit", was published on 25 September 2002. Its 61 recommendations set out a package of measures which aim to modernise charity law and enable a wide range of organisations to be more effective and innovative.
	The report recommends that in future all charities should have to demonstrate public benefit. Part of the report considers what happens now with those charities that charge fees which serve to exclude large sections of the population in terms of their having to make provision for wider access for those who would be excluded because of the fees. The report cites the example of independent schools.
	At present there is no systematic programme in place to check the public character of charities. The report recommends that an on-going review programme run by the Charity Commission should check the public character of such organisations. It is proposed that the commission would identify charities likely to charge high fees (such as independent schools) and undertake a rolling programme to check that provision was made for wider access. This programme will be designed to minimise red tape and will not focus on any particular sector. Short returns will be issued which ask charities what they do in terms of widening access, such as making provision for sharing facilities. It is envisaged that for the majority of cases no further inquiry will be necessary beyond the initial return.
	It is proposed that the Charity Commission, in consultation with charities likely to be affected and their umbrella bodies, would issue guidelines as to the level of access appropriate in particular circumstances.
	Of course at the moment these are only proposals. The report was out for consultation until 31 December 2002, and we shall consider the responses to this, and all the other matters addressed in the report, very carefully.

School Admissions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the responses received to the consultation on Revised School Admissions and Admission Appeals Codes of Practice and Accompanying Regulations.

David Miliband: We received 187 written responses to the consultation, detailed in the following list. We also received verbal responses from four meetings with LEA officers, headteachers and others—some 400 people attended.
	LEAs (94)
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnet
	Barnsley
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bedfordshire
	Birmingham
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Bracknell Forest
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bromley
	Buckinghamshire
	Calderdale
	Cambridgeshire
	Camden
	Cheshire
	Cornwall
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Derbyshire
	Devon
	Doncaster
	Dorset
	Durham
	Ealing
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	East Sussex
	Enfield
	Essex
	Greenwich
	Hampshire
	Harrow
	Hartlepool
	Hounslow
	Isle of Wight
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kent
	Kingston upon Thames
	Leeds
	Leicestershire
	Lewisham
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Medway
	Merton
	Middlesbrough
	Milton Keynes
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Newham
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Somerset
	North Yorkshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Poole
	Portsmouth
	Redbridge
	Richmond upon Thames
	Rochdale
	Sandwell
	Sheffield
	Shropshire
	Slough
	Somerset
	South Gloucestershire
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Southwark
	Staffordshire
	Stockport
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Suffolk
	Sunderland
	Surrey
	Tameside
	Torbay
	Tower Hamlets
	Trafford
	Wakefield
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Warwickshire
	West Berkshire
	Westminster
	West Sussex
	Wirral
	Wiltshire
	Wokingham
	Wolverhampton
	Churches, Diocese and other belief organisations
	Catholic Education Service
	Church of England Board of Education
	Agency for Jewish Education/United Synagogue
	The Methodist Church
	Diocese of Blackburn
	London Diocesan Board for Schools
	Board of Education of Norwich Diocese
	Portsmouth Diocese Board of Education
	St. Albans Diocese
	The Dioceses of Southwark
	Archdioceses of Westminster Education Service
	Winchester Diocesan Board of Education
	British Humanist Association
	National Secular Society
	Key organisations
	Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
	Association of London Chief Education Officers (ALCEO)/London Inter-Authority Admissions Group (LIAAG)
	Audit Commission
	Campaign For State Education (CASE)
	Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex
	Council of Tribunals
	Education Network (TEN)
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Foundation and Aided Schools Association (FASNA)
	Information for School and College Governors (ISCG)
	Local Government Association (LGA)
	Local Government Ombudsman
	London School of Economics
	National Children's Bureau
	National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA)
	National Union of Teachers (NUT)
	Save the Children
	Secondary Heads Association (SHA)
	Others
	Office of the Children's Rights
	Five e-mails from parents
	Schools (51)
	Beaverwood School for Girls
	Beechen Cliff School
	Bennett Memorial Diocesan School
	Bishop Stopford's School
	Bullerswood School
	Bushey Meads School
	Canon Slade School
	Carr Hill 11–18 High School
	Casterton Community College
	Chelmsford County High School for Girls
	Coloma Convent Girls School
	The Folkestone School for Girls
	Grays Convent School
	Hasmonean Primary School
	Hasmonean High School
	Hertsmere Jewish Primary
	Independent Jewish Day School
	Kemnal Technology College
	King Edward VI Grammar School
	Lady Margaret School
	Latimer High School
	London Oratory School
	Langley Park School for Girls
	Menorah Primary School
	Michael Sobell Sinai School
	Minchinhampton School
	Montagu School
	Moriah Jewish Day School
	Northolt High School
	North West Jewish Day School
	Nottingham Emmanuel School
	Parkstone Grammar School
	Parmiter's School
	The Priory LSST
	St. Andrew's CE Primary, Enfield
	St. Bernard's High School, Essex
	St. Francis Xavier School
	St. Ignatius College
	St. James's CE Secondary School, Bolton
	St. James the Great VA Primary and Nursery School
	St. Peter's School, Bournemouth
	St. Peter's School, Walsall
	Sacred Heart School, Camberwell
	Sandiwig Primary
	Southend High School for Boys
	Watford Grammar School for Girls
	Westcliff High School for Boys
	Wolfson Hillel Primary School
	Plus e-mailed responses from three unnamed schools.

School Budgets (Unspent Balances)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what unspent school balances were clawed back using the funding formula set out by Mr.S.Bishop in his letter to chief education officers of local education authorities in England dated 23 October.

David Miliband: The Department wrote to Local Education Authorities on 10 December 2002 confirming that local education authorities would be able to use the system of controls on school balances proposed in the 23 October letter. However, they can do so only from April 2004.

School discipline

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned into disciplinary problems in schools, related to juvenile drug abuse.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills has not commissioned research specifically focusing on disciplinary problems in schools related to juvenile drug abuse.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the additional cost if the number of specialist schools rose to (a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent. and (c) 100 per cent. of all maintained schools.

David Miliband: The 2002–03 estimated cost of the programme will be #154.4 million. The full year revenue cost of the programme with the different levels of coverage of maintained secondary schools would be (a) #213.2 million (b) #320.2 million and (c) #427.2 million. Capital costs to take coverage to these levels would be (a) #61.8 million (b) #141.5 million and (c) #221.2 million.
	In November 2002 the Government lifted the cap on national funding to support the expansion of the programme. However, progress to specialist status continues to be dependent on meeting the required standard.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the specialist schools which have lost specialist status, with the date of the decision in each case and the reason for it.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	Applicant schools seeking re-designation in their specialism are assessed against published criteria. Those applicants which do not meet the criteria in respect of the progress expected of specialist schools against the designation criteria, and/or prepare new plans that do not meet the required standard, are unsuccessful in their applications and are not re-designated.
	
		De-designated specialist schools
		
			 School LEA Specialism Operational From (September) To 
		
		
			 
			 Aldersley High School Wolverhampton Technology 2000 31 August 19971 
			 Archbishop Michael Ramsey Southwark, LB of Technology 2001 31 July 19991 
			 Ashcroft High School Luton Technology 1996 1 September 2002 
			 Baines School Lancashire Technology 1994 31 August 2000 
			 Banbury School Technology College Oxfordshire Technology 1995 31 August 2001 
			 Bethnal Green High School Tower Hamlets Technology 1996 1 September 2002 
			 Chalfonts Community College (The) Buckinghamshire Technology 2002 31 August 19981 
			 Cowes High School Isle of Wight Technology 1995 31 August 2001 
			 Culcheth High School Warrington Technology 1995 31 December 1997 
			 de Stafford College Surrey Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Fallibroome High School Cheshire Technology 1995 31 December 1997 
			 Kings School Grantham Lincolnshire Technology 1994 31 August 2000 
			 Knowles Hill School Devon Technology 2000 31 August 19981 
			 Latymer School (The) Enfield Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Lea Manor High School Luton Language 1996 31 August 1999 
			 Mansfield High School Lancashire Technology 1997 31 August 1998 
			 Maricourt High School Sefton Technology 1996 1 September 2002 
			 Merrill College Derby, City of Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Oakmead School Bournemouth Technology 2001 31 August 19991 
			 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Derbyshire Technology 1997 31 August 2000 
			 Rastrick High School Calderdale Technology 1994 31 August 2000 
			 Reading School Reading Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Sawston Village College Cambridgeshire Technology 1999 31 August 19981 
			 Senacre Technology College Kent Technology 1994 31 August 1997 
			 Sidney Stringer School Coventry Technology 1995 31 August 2001 
			 St Francis Xavier College Liverpool Technology 1996 31 August 1999 
			 St James C of E School Bolton Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 St Peter's High School and Technology College Essex Technology 1995 31 August 2001 
			 St Thomas More Catholic College Stoke on Trent Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Tring School Hertfordshire Technology 1995 31 August 1998 
			 Westlands High School Cheshire Technology 1997 31August 2000 
			 Westwood St Thomas School Wiltshire Technology 1997 31 August 2000 
			 Woolston High School Warrington Technology 1996 31 August 1999 
		
	
	1 These schools have subsequently been successful in applications to re-join the programme.
	Note:
	Reasons for de-designation:
	All of the schools listed above, with the exception of Mansfield High School, were de-designated because they did not meet the criteria in respect of the progress expected of specialist schools against the designation criteria, and/or they did not prepare new plans that met the required standard. Mansfield High School was de-designated because of financial irregularities.

Standards Fund

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the elements of the standards fund for each of the next two years showing budgeted expenditure under each head for each year.

David Miliband: Details of education funding for the next three years, including the Standards Fund, were announced in the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 9 December and have been placed in the Library.
	
		# million
		
			 The Standards Fund Total budget  
			  2003–04 2004–05  
		
		
			 Leadership Incentive Grant 175 175  
			 Targeted Improvement Grant 34 34  
			 Special Educational Needs 41 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco Education and Prevention 12 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 Study Support 27 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 Study Support (Excellence in Cities) 19 21  
			 Child Protection Co-ordinators 1 1  
			 Vulnerable Children 42 42  
			 National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies 109 79  
			 Key Stage 3 National Strategy 104 71  
			 Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Behaviour 20 20  
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement 78 78  
			 Education Health Partnerships 6 6  
			 Music Services 60 60  
			 Playing for Success 3 3  
			 Early Excellence Centres 10 n/a This grant will be paid outside the SF from 2004–06 
			 Behaviour (Excellence in Cities) 60 70  
			 School Achievement Award Scheme 60  Funding from 2004–05 will be determined by the outcome of the evaluation of scheme 
			 Excellence in Cities and Excellence Clusters 287 330  
			 Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Children 4 4  
			 Specialist Schools: Revenue 193 273 Demand led 
			 Beacon Schools — — To be determined 
			 Diversity Pathfinders 2 2 Demand led 
			 Extended Schools 5 14  
			 Federations — — To be determined 
			 Advanced Schools — — To be determined 
			 Golden Hello Payments 29 0 Demand led 
			 Training Schools 8 11 Demand led 
			 Advanced Skills Teachers 33 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 School Support Staff 134 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 School Support Staff: Training and Development 37 65  
			 Teacher Sabbaticals 10 0 Cease to be paid from 2004–05 
			 Early Professional Development 10 58  
			 Fast track — — To be determined 
			 Fresh Start and New Partnerships — — To be determined 
			 Information Communications Technology in Schools 178 — 2004–05 to be determined

Targets

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his response was to recent representations on targets connected with (a) the implementation of asset management plans by local educational authorities and (b) the rewording of substantial school repair projects.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has sent no response to representations on these targets. In recent weeks, officials have had meetings with representatives of the Construction Products Association to give details of the capital strategy and the role of the DfES in providing support for capital investment in their buildings by schools and LEAs. The Department is currently considering how best to collect information on the delivery of improved school buildings without imposing undue bureaucratic burdens locally or centrally.

Temporary Workers Legislation

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what costs he estimates will fall on (a) local education authorities and (b) other public education providers resulting from recent European legislation on temporary workers.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has arranged for Regulatory Impact Assessments to be placed in the Library concerning: the recent Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of less favourable treatment) Regulations, which came into force on 1 October; and the European Commission's proposed Directive on the Working Conditions of Temporary Agency Workers.

University Funding

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the criteria which he will use to allocate planned extra resources for student places to particular (a) universities and (b) courses, with special reference to the academic excellence of particular institutions.

Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) determine the extra allocations for individual institutions through an annual bidding exercise for additional student numbers. The criteria for the allocation of these places for 2003–04 are set out in the HEFCE publication, XAdditional Student Places and Funds 2003–04", report number 2002/39. The strategy document on higher education, which will be published in January 2003, will set out our vision for the future funding of higher education.

University Places

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from Leeds West obtained places at a university in (a) 2002 and (b) 1997; and what percentage of those who had sat A levels went on to university.

Margaret Hodge: Figures for the number of students who enter higher education are not collated centrally by constituency.
	The available figures for Great Britain, showing the proportion of under 21-year-olds who enter higher education for the first time, are given in the table. There was an increase in the index in 1997–98 related partly to changes in the funding arrangements for higher education, with students choosing to enter HE rather than wait until 1998–99. There was a corresponding reduction in 1998–99 before the entry rates started to increase again in 1999–2000. Between 1997–98 and 2000–01, total HE students in English universities and colleges rose by 83,000. Nationally, around nine out of 10 18-year-olds who obtain two or more A levels enter HE by the time they are 21.
	
		Age participation index (API)1 for Great Britain
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			  
			 1997–98 33 
			 1998–99 31 
			 1999–2000 32 
			 2000–01 33 
			 2001–02 233–35 
			 2002–03 233–35 
		
	
	1 The API is defined as the number of GB domiciled initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate HE aged under 21, expressed as a percentage of the average number of 18 and 19-year-olds in the population.
	2 Projected: final data on initial entrants not yet available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Angola

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the lifting of sanctions against the UNITA group in Angola.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial Statement I made on 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 43WS.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Jack Straw: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The answer to the first part of this question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Any expenditure in these categories is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
	The total spent on entertainment, Christmas decorations and other festive activities for the FCO ministerial private offices and official residence at Christmas 2002 was #13,337.15. Of this #11,809.65 was spent on entertaining by ministerial offices and #1,527.50 in the official residence.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the adjustments to the UN plan for Cyprus which were ratified to the parties on 10th December; if he will place a copy of the UN plan as adjusted in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The United Nations' Secretary General has asked that the full details of the United Nations' negotiating process for a settlement in Cyprus remain confidential. It is for the UN Secretary General to decide on this plan's publication. I regret that it is therefore not possible to put a copy, as requested, in the Library.
	The broad thrust of the Secretary General's revised 10 December proposal was to make improvements for both sides in the areas of greatest concern to them.
	The United Nations held intensive consultations with the two sides in Cyprus and also in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December 2002. It did not prove possible, however, to achieve a comprehensive settlement. However, the parties' positions have never been closer and agreement seemed possible up until the last minute.
	The UN Security Council heard a report from Mr Alvaro de Soto on 18 December and the President of the Council issued the following press statement:
	XOn 18 December the members of the Security Council, in the presence of the Secretary General, heard a report from the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Cyprus on the negotiations that have taken place in recent months, in pursuance of the mission entrusted to the Secretary General by the Security Council in its resolution 1250, aimed at achieving agreement on a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem which takes full account of relevant Security Council resolutions. The members of the Council commended the Secretary General for the initiatives he had taken in November and December 2002 to bridge the gaps between the two sides and to enable them to reach an agreement. They expressed the view that the proposal put forward on 11 November as revised on 10 December offered an unique opportunity to reach a settlement in the coming weeks. They regretted that the Turkish Cypriot leadership had not responded in a timely way to the initiatives of the Secretary General; and they called for its constructive efforts to reach a settlement in conformity with the timetable proposed by the Secretary General. They welcomed the willingness of both sides to continue the negotiations in the period ahead. They underlined the importance of intensifying the negotiations so that full agreement could be reached before 28 February 2003, in conformity with the timetable proposed by the Secretary General in his proposals. They urged both sides to work on the basis of the Secretary General's revised proposals of 10 December. The members of the Council drew attention to the unique opportunity that existed for the settlement of this long-running problem; and to the benefits for all concerned from so doing, so that all Cypriots can benefit from Cyprus's accession to the European Union. They urged all concerned to seize the historic opportunity to bring a peaceful, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem to the benefit of all its people and the wider region.The members of the Council expressed their full support for the continuation of the Secretary General's mission of good offices and his efforts to bring about a settlement in the first two months of 2003."

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Final Report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bill Rammell: The UK fully supports the work of the UN Panel and welcomes its latest report. This highlights the activities of Xcriminal elites" operating throughout the region to exploit the DRC's natural resources. We hope the information in the report can be used to call those involved to account, although more information will be required to substantiate many of the claims made.
	The Panel's mandate expired on 18 October. We are still in discussion with the UN about the allegations. The Security Council is considering the extension of the panel's mandate to allow discussions to continue.

Draft EU Constitution

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the clause in the EU draft constitution produced by the Convention on the Future of Europe requiring member states to do everything to further the aims of the EU.

Denis MacShane: The draft Constitutional Treaty of the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe is an outline for discussion by the Convention. It has a clause which 'sets out the obligation of loyal co-operation of Member States vis-a-vis the Union'. The principle exists in the present Treaties (Article 10 of the Treaty on European Community and Article 11(2) the Treaty on European Union).

Draft EU Constitution

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the current draft of the European Constitution produced by the Convention on the Future of Europe contains a clause requiring a member state to join the euro.

Denis MacShane: The draft Constitutional Treaty of the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe does not contain a clause requiring Member States to join the Euro. The UK would not agree to a constitution that would compel us to join the Euro. The Government would only recommend membership of the Euro if it is in the national economic interest and the economic case is clear and unambiguous.

Draft EU Constitution

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish (a) the latest draft EU constitution produced by the Convention on the Future of Europe and (b) the UK response.

Denis MacShane: The Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe's draft Constitutional Treaty is publicly available. It can be accessed through their website at http://european-convention.eu.int/. It is a basis for further discussion by the Convention.

EU Borders (Immigration)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place at the Copenhagen summit regarding the securing of EU borders to illegal immigration.

Denis MacShane: There were no specific discussions of illegal immigration at the Copenhagen European Council. The European Council in Seville in June 2002 focussed on ways to tackle illegal immigration and asylum, agreeing specific tasks and a timetable for implementing them. Good progress has been made on implementing these objectives. The Greek Presidency has identified combating illegal immigration as one of its priorities. Heads of State and Governments will assess progress in implementing the Seville Conclusions at the European Council in June 2003.

European Union Enlargement

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether money and resources will be provided by the British Government for campaigning in referenda to be held in the various states proposing to join the European Union in 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Given the decisions made at the Copenhagen Summit, the Government hopes that where there are referendums, EU membership will be supported; and in deepening and developing relations with the ten states prior to their planned accession on 1 May 2004, the Government will continue to set out the benefits of membership.
	The decision to join the EU rests with the citizens of the accession states themselves and the government has no plans to give direct financial support to campaigning groups within the 10 EU accession states

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department is nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list in his Department.

Bill Rammell: I am the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Green Minister.
	Information such as ministerial attendance at committees is covered by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of the Cabinet and its committees.
	The DEFRA rural proofing check-list does not currently apply to the FCO.

India

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Hawk components or production equipment exported to India under the open licence issued on 6 September 2001 have subsequently been re-exported; and what the (a) location of and (b) end-use were to which Hawk components or production equipment exported to India under the licence were put.

Jack Straw: holding answer 17 December 2002
	The company has informed us that no Hawk components or production equipment have been exported to India under the open individual export licence issued by the Department for Trade and Industry on 6 September 2001.

Statutory Instruments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by his Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three sessions.

Jack Straw: The Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure that were made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each of the last three sessions, are in the following list. All came into force and were considered by a designated legislation committee.
	1999/666 The Hong Kong (Overseas Public Servants) (Pension Supplements) (Amendment) Order 1999
	1999/1437 The Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999 (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1999
	2000/2147 The Antarctic (Amendment) Regulations 2000
	2001/3497 The British Nationality Act 1981 (Amendment of Schedules) Order 2001
	2002/1823 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) Order 2002
	2002/1824 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) (Hong Kong) Order 2002
	2002/1825 The Extradition (Overseas Territories) (Application to Hong Kong) Order 2002

Turkey

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigation he has made into the number of changed appointment times brought about by the visa section of the British Consulate in Istanbul over the last quarter.

Bill Rammell: No investigation has been made. On rare occasions, operational difficulties such as staff sickness or security restrictions may mean that interview appointments have to be rearranged. In such circumstances, applicants are usually seen the next day. Applicants can ask to have interview appointments brought forward for compassionate or other compelling reasons.

UN Headquarters

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the potential move of the United Nations London headquarters to another European capital.

Bill Rammell: As much UN information is available on-line, the United Nations Secretary- General in his report of 23 September 2002, "Strengthening of the United Nations", recommended the rationalisation of UN Information Centres in Western Europe, with their work being taken on by a single regional "hub". We believe the London UN Information Centre does an excellent job in promoting the UN in the UK. But we also fully support the Secretary-General's Reform report, which we believe will help to achieve a more efficient UN with resources focussed on priority activities. The proposed rationalisation of UN information centres will result in savings, which will be reallocated to those parts of the world with less access to information technology.
	A decision on the location of the Western Europe regional "hub" is not due until late 2003. The decision is for the Secretary-General to take. We would, of course, be delighted if London was chosen.

Venezuela

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he is giving to (a) British expatriates living in Caracas and (b) British companies with interests in Venezuela on unrest in that country.

Bill Rammell: On 21 December we advised all British Nationals in Venezuela to leave unless they had an urgent reason to remain. This decision was taken because of the continuing national strike and the resultant deteriorating security situation. We have maintained regular contact with British companies operating in Venezuela throughout this period. 139W

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors were (a) returned to their country of origin prior to their 18th birthday in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2002, (b) to which countries they were returned in each year and (c) what criteria were applied for each country; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available. Although statistics of the removal of failed asylum seekers include unaccompanied minors; they are not separately identified. The information would therefore be available only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
	However, as a matter of policy, unaccompanied children are not removed under Immigration Act powers unless we are satisfied that suitable arrangements have been made for their reception and care in the destination country.

Asylum Seekers

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be changes to the process for families who apply for asylum in-country claiming support following implementation of section 55 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Beverley Hughes: From 8 January 2003, when section 55 comes into force, support will be provided to an asylum seeker and his/her household if he or she has a dependant aged under 18 even if he/she did not apply for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable. It is for the Secretary of State, in practice The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), to determine whether a person is a dependant under 18 and to determine who forms part of the household and can therefore receive support irrespective of whether the asylum seeker concerned applied for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable. Accordingly new procedures are being developed to enable this to take place.

Children Act

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to implement the decision of the High Court on 29 November that the Children Act 1989 applies to children held in prison custody.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mrs. Brooke) on 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 128W.

Children in Prison

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are held in prison, broken down by type of offence.

Hilary Benn: The number of people under the age of 18 that were in prison on 31 October 2002, broken down by offence group is shown in the table.
	
		Juveniles in Prison Service establishments by offence type, 31 October 2002
		
			 Offence Type Number of Persons 
		
		
			 Total 2,724 
			 Violence Against the Person 468 
			 Sexual Offences 80 
			 Burglary 491 
			 Robbery 701 
			 Theft and Handling 424 
			 Fraud and Forgery 8 
			 Drugs Offences 65 
			 Other Offences 381 
			 Offence Not Recorded 106

Drug Trafficking

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding he has targeted on preventative programmes to tackle (a) drug use and crime and (b) youth offending; what funding is specifically targeted at vulnerable groups; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Planned expenditure across Government in 2002–03 is as follows:
	Prevention of drug misuse by initiatives to disrupt trafficking and to reduce the supply of drugs—#376 million;
	Preventative initiatives to strengthen communities and reduce the impact on them of drug misuse, including by reducing offending and re-offending by the drug misusers who cause the most harm to themselves and others—#171 million; and
	Preventing drug misuse by young people, including through education and early interventions particularly targeted at vulnerable young people—#102 million.

Emergency Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to create a separate offence of assault on members of the emergency services.

Hilary Benn: All assaults against emergency services personnel are totally unacceptable, and the severity of the sentence should reflect the relative seriousness of the crime. Courts already have discretion to impose the appropriate sentence taking into account all the aggravating or mitigating circumstances, within maximum penalties that range from six months for common assault to life imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Floating Accommodation

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which are the mainland locations closest to the floating accommodation that are being planned;
	(2)  what recent representations his Department have received on using floating accommodation centres for asylum seekers; and what size of such centres he is planning.

Beverley Hughes: I met the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff) on 4 July 2002 to discuss floating accommodation for asylum seekers. We have not ruled out this possibility.
	Site searching for potential accommodation centre sites remains ongoing. We will not be putting into the public domain details of such sites unless and until they are considered to be a serious prospect for the siting of an accommodation centre.

Prison Inmates (Hospital Treatment)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 2002 prison inmates have been taken to hospital for medical treatment and have been shackled while in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: No central records are maintained of the number of prisoners taken to hospital for medical treatment or the number of those who are held under restraint, and the information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The application of restraints to prisoners at hospital is determined by a risk assessment but restraints are not applied to women attending for antenatal treatment or to give birth. Once applied, restraints may be removed subject to a risk assessment, and will be removed where a healthcare professional seeks their removal because of an immediate risk to the health of the prisoner, or because the prisoner is in pain or discomfort, or because the restraints are impeding essential treatment.

Prisoners (Thrombolysis)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of heart attack victims in the prison population received thrombolysis within 30 minutes in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Suicides (Youth Detention)

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) young people and (b) women have committed suicide in youth detention in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many suicides there have been in English prisons in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is in the tables. Table 1 covers the 468 self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England since 1 January 1997. Table 2 covers the 71 male and eight female self-inflicted deaths of those under the age of 21 held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales since 1 January 1997. Those under the age of 18 may also be held in Local Authority Secure Units and Secure Training Centres (STCs). Table 3 covers the one self-inflicted death in Local Authority Secure Units in England and Wales since 1 January 1997. There have been no deaths in STCs since the first STC opened in April 1998.
	
		Table 1: Number of self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England between 1 January 1997 and 17 December 2002
		
			 Calendar year Number 
		
		
			 1997 65 
			 1998 76 
			 1999 89 
			 2000 80 
			 2001 67 
			 2002 91 
			 Total 468 
		
	
	
		Table 2: The number of self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales by gender and age category between 1 January 1997 and 17 December 2002
		
			  Age category  
			 Gender/calendar year 15–17 years 18–20 years Total 
		
		
			 Male
			 1997 0 8 8 
			 1998 3 11 14 
			 1999 2 13 15 
			 2000 3 9 12 
			 2001 3 8 11 
			 2002 3 9 11 
			 Total 13 58 71 
			 
			 Female
			 1997 0 1 1 
			 2000 0 4 4 
			 2001 0 2 2 
			 2002 0 1 1 
			 Total 0 8 8 
		
	
	
		Table 3: The number of self-inflicted deaths in Local Authority Secure Units between 1 January 1997 and 17 December 2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 — 
			 1998 1 
			 1999 — 
			 2000 — 
			 2001 — 
			 2002 — 
		
	
	The Prison Service and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) are working closely together to try to prevent the suicides of young people held in their care. The Prison Service's suicide prevention and self-harm reduction programme (which applies to all prisoners, regardless of gender and age) includes a series of projects to improve pre-reception, reception and induction arrangements; the exchange of information; the care of prisoners; detoxification; prisoners supporting each other and learning from investigations into deaths in custody.

Terrorism

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with European partners on changes to immigration and asylum policy in the fight against terrorism.

Beverley Hughes: The United Kingdom has actively promoted counter terrorism measures within the European Union (EU) and the global fight against terrorism now represents a key priority objective for the EU. We ensure that discussions of immigration and asylum issues, and in particular border control measures, take full account of the contribution that these activities can make to the fight against terrorism.

NORTHERN IRELAND

High Hedges

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce legislation for Northern Ireland to deal with high hedges.

Angela Smith: I have no plans at present to introduce legislation for Northern Ireland on this issue.

Transport Links

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the potential for enhanced rail, air and sea transport links between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: Air and shipping services are 'reserved' matters, which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport. Northern Ireland is reasonably well served at present by the existing transport linkages with Scotland, however there is always potential for such links to be further strengthened and enhanced, and I would expect this to happen as the private sector operators respond to new commercial opportunities and the changing market. It remains to be seen though what effect the growing competition between air and shipping operators will have on the Northern Ireland-Scotland routes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

GATS

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what organisations have been consulted in the UK public consultation on GATS; and what measures have been taken to maximise public contributions to the consultation process.

Patricia Hewitt: To date, my Department has distributed over 1,500 copies of the consultation document to NGOs, professional associations, trade associations, industry groups, members of the public and other interested groups and associations. In addition, the consultation document has been available in two formats (PDF and Word) on the DTFs World Trade web site.

Nuclear Facilities (Safety)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has given to civil nuclear facilities regarding security.

Brian Wilson: Advice on security measures at civil nuclear facilities is provided by the DTI's Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS). The Director of Civil Nuclear Security, the nuclear security regulator, published his first annual report this year outlining his activities, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	It is not Government policy to disclose details of security issues concerning nuclear facilities as this information could be of use to potential terrorists.

Arbre Biomass Renewable Energy Plant

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she received (a) from and (b) in relation to the Arbre Biomass renewable energy plant; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 19 December 2002
	My officials and I, have received a number of representations from those with an interest in the Arbre biomass plant.
	Despite the recent problems that have beset Arbre it is hoped the project will be brought into full commercial operation under new ownership. The Government has indicated its willingness to talk to interested parties willing to create a long-term future for Arbre and to consider proposals which reduce the technical risk of taking the project to commercial operation.
	Many lessons have already been learnt as a result of the project that can be applied to future high efficiency biomass plant, which are likely to be required if dedicated biomass plant are to be available in the medium term.

ASW Steel

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the communications she has received from (a) Members and (b) officials of the Welsh Assembly about (i) ASW Steel and (ii) Celsa.

Patricia Hewitt: DTI Ministers have received a number of communications from Members and officials of the Welsh Assembly Government about the receivership of ASW Holdings Ltd. and the subsequent announcement by its receivers, KPMG, that they have entered into an exclusivity agreement with Celsa to discuss the sale of certain ASW assets. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose confidential communications between Government Departments which are covered by Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

ASW Steel

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date she was informed that (a) ASW Steel had gone into receivership, (b) the Cardiff plant was closed by the receivers and (c) Celsa had purchased part of ASW Steel's assets.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 December 2002
	The answer is as follows:
	(a) I became aware that ASW Holdings Ltd. was in difficulty in early July and immediately initiated discussions to try to help the company. My colleague, Minister of State for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions, held an emergency meeting, on 8 July 2002 involving the company, its bankers and credit insurers. Despite these efforts, I was informed on 10 July 2002 that the company unfortunately had been left with no alternative but to call in the receivers.
	(b) On 24 July 2002, the receivers, KPMG, informed my Department that production at the Cardiff plant would not recommence after the annual two-week summer shut down due to begin on 26 July 2002.
	(c) I became aware that Celsa had entered into an exclusivity agreement with KPMG to negotiate the purchase of part of ASW's assets on 11 November 2002.

ASW Steel

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department had with (a) Members, (b) officials of the Welsh Assembly, (c) officials and (d) receivers of (i) ASW Steel and (ii) Celsa regarding the sale of ASW Steel to Celsa and what the (A) purpose and (B) conclusions of them were.

Patricia Hewitt: ASW is in administrative receivership and discussions with potential purchasers of the company are entirely a matter for the receivers, KPMG. My Department has therefore had no discussions with Celsa. My Department has, as you might expect, maintained a dialogue, and met, with KPMG to keep abreast of developments in order to assess the future of the company and its workforce. It has also maintained contact with officials at the Welsh Assembly to exchange information on the progress of discussions between the receivers and potential purchasers.
	The sale of parts of ASW to Celsa has not been finalised. The discussions between Celsa and KPMG are subject to a confidentiality agreement and so full details of the proposed agreement are not known at this stage. Celsa has indicated that if its bid is finalised it hopes to create jobs for around 600 in Cardiff. KPMG continue discussions with prospective purchasers for the parts of the Sheerness plant not included in the proposed Celsa deal and I very much hope that a buyer can be found.
	At the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, officials in HM Consulate General Barcelona have separately attempted, unsuccessfully, to facilitate a private meeting for my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, with Celsa. In doing so, it was made clear that my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, wished to express his concern for his constituents and the job losses involved and that her Majesty's Government was impartial between the UK locations currently occupied by ASW and officials would not be able to accompany my hon. Friend to any meeting with the company. Apart from this, my Department has had no contact with the company.

ASW Steel

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's involvement in the sale of ASW Steel to Celsa.

Patricia Hewitt: ASW Holdings Ltd. is in administrative receivership and the sale of the company is a matter for the appointed receivers, KPMG. My Department has had no involvement in the proposed sale of parts of ASW Holdings Ltd. to Celsa.
	At the request of my hon. Friend, the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Mr. Wyatt), officials in HM Consulate General Barcelona have separately attempted, unsuccessfully, to facilitate a private meeting for my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey with Celsa. In doing so, it was made clear that my hon. Friend the Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey wished to express his concern for his constituents and the job losses involved.

ASW Steel

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants have been made to (a) ASW Steel, (b) Celsa, (c) ASW's Cardiff site, and (d) ASW's Sheerness site in each of the last two years, stating for each (i) the date and (ii) conditions of the grant.

Patricia Hewitt: I can find no record of grants awarded by my Department to any part of ASW Holdings Ltd. in the last two years, neither is there any record of any grants to the Sheerness plant from authorities in the south-east. Similarly, the Welsh Assembly Government inform me that no grants have been awarded to the Cardiff site from Welsh authorities. Celsa, although it is currently in discussion with KPMG for the purchase of parts of ASW, is a Spanish company with no known business operations in the UK, and so would not have received any grants in the UK.

British Energy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the financial implications to BNFL of the rescue package for British Energy; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: This is a commercial matter for BNFL.

Broadband Satellite (SEEDA)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on the SEEDA's policy to introduce broadband by satellite; and why the scheme was discontinued.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	To date approximately 200 grants have been offered at #1,060 each during a pilot phase of SEEDA's satellite broadband programme. The trial ran from June through to November 2002. The programme has not been discontinued. The results of the pilot are being evaluated and it is planned that the programme will be launched across the whole of the south-east region early in the new year.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the role of regional development agencies in promoting growth of child care in industry; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I strongly believe that the appropriate provision of child care makes an important contribution to the achievement of economic prosperity at national and regional level. Accordingly, officials in the Department and the Department for Education and Skills have been discussing with the RDAs ways in which they can help to promote and support both public and private provision of child care in their regions.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many departmental Christmas cards she and her Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if she will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card she has sent this year.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 19 December 2002
	In total, 800 departmental Christmas cards were sent by Ministers in my Department. The total cost of designing and printing these cards was approximately #269 and the cost to post them was about #250. It is not possible to estimate the staff costs involved in signing, addressing and placing the cards in envelopes without incurring disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards was made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in 'Government Accounting'.
	I have arranged for a sample of the departmental Christmas card to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Coal Health Compensation Schemes

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on the coal health compensation schemes; and what percentage of the total has gone to (a) claimants, (b) solicitors and (c) other organisations, with specific reference to (i) IRISC, (ii) Healthcall, (iii) Schlumberga Senna and (iv) Hayes.

Brian Wilson: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  COPD # million VWF # million Total # million Percentage 
		
		
			 Total damages paid 520 660 1,180 73 
			 Total solicitors' costs paid 100 60 160 10 
			 Other costs related to claim settlements which include payments to contractors — — (21)270 17 
		
	
	(21) Due to commercial confidentiality, the Department is unable to provide a breakdown of the figures paid to individual contractors.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter of 16 October regarding car imports from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan.

Patricia Hewitt: My office cannot find any trace of the letter. I suggest that the hon. Member sends it to me again and I will ensure that it receives prompt attention.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter of October 2002 regarding mis-selling of pensions from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan.

Patricia Hewitt: The letter was transferred to the Treasury for response since the subject is the responsibility of that Department.

Embedded Generation

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress she has made in encouraging embedded generation; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The DTI has taken a number of initiatives to facilitate the development of embedded or distributed generation. Many of the initiatives are being progressed through the Distributed Generation Co-ordinating Group (DGCG), established jointly by the DTI and Ofgem, to monitor the implementation of the Embedded Generation Working Group's recommendations. These recommendations focus on ensuring that embedded generation is treated in a fair and equitable fashion when connecting to the distribution networks and operating in the electricity market.
	Many of the activities of the DGCG are funded via the DTI's Renewable Energy Programme, which also supports a range of other activities designed specifically to facilitate the development of embedded or distributed generation within the UK.

Further and Higher Education Policy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had on the needs of employers with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in connection with formulation of policies on further and higher education.

Patricia Hewitt: I am well aware that the business perspective needs to be reflected in the higher education and further education agendas.
	To this end, I have regular meetings with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to discuss these issues. The last such meeting was on 1 December 2002. There are regular meetings between my right hon. and hon. Friends, the Minister for Work and Pensions, the Minister for Adult Learning, the Economic Secretary and the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, in order to develop the agenda. Also, senior officials from the two Departments meet regularly to discuss the strategy fully.

Green Ministers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister in her Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often she has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list in her Department.

Brian Wilson: I am DTI's Green Minister.
	It is established practice under Exemption 2 of Part II of the code of practice on access to Government information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of the Cabinet and its committees— such as Ministerial attendance at committees.
	Departments do not publish a list of officials responsible for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list as personnel and machinery of Government changes mean that any published list would become out of date fairly quickly.

Icelandic Trawlermen

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will include the Erimo on the list of eligible vessels for the purpose of the compensation scheme for former Icelandic water trawlermen.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government are not satisfied on the basis of the available evidence that the Erimo made voyages within 200 miles of Iceland, as required under the scheme rules. It would not therefore be appropriate for it to be added to the list.

Investment Committee

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of reference are for the Investment Committee; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Draft terms of reference for the Business Support Investment Committee are to be discussed at its first meeting in January and the agreed version will then be published.

Knowledge Transfer Initiatives

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department will spend on knowledge transfer initiatives in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06 following the comprehensive spending review 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 17 December 2002
	As part of its 2002 spending review (SR2002) settlement, the Department of Trade and Industry's resources for innovation and knowledge transfer will rise from #338 million in 2002–03 to #388 million by 2005–06. My Department is currently developing—as part of our business planning process—detailed allocations for individual budgets and activities for the SR2002 period.
	In addition, through the Office of Science and Technology and the UK science budget, my Department provides funding for activities which support the commercial exploitation of science. This includes, for example, funding for the Higher EducationInnovation Fund and the Public Sector Research Establishment (PSRE) Fund. For more information, see www.ost.golv.uk/reerach/funding/budget03–06/dti-sciencebudgetbook.pdf

Ministerial Engagements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by her or her predecessor and (b) by ministers in her Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon Member to the answer given to him on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W, by my hon Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the time she spent in the last six months working as a Minister was spent on issues relating to her role as (a) Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (b) Minister for Women and (c) E-Minister in the Cabinet.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 December 2002
	My roles as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Minister for Women and E-Minister in the Cabinet are closely linked, and it is not practicable to make an assessment of my time spent on each subject without incurring disproportionate cost.

Nimrod/Astute Contracts

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department hired UBS Warburg to advise it and the MoD on issues arising from the Nimrod and Astute contracts with BAE Systems.

Alan Johnson: The Government has retained the services of UBS Warburg to provide specialist financial advice. There is nothing unusual in this, as it is not uncommon for Government to bring in external experts for specialist advice.

Post Office Network

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports she has made to the Prime Minister on progress in implementing the recommendations made by the PIU for modernising the Post Office network; if she will publish the reports; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Postcomm reports annually on the post office network and its second annual report was published on 30 September 2002. The Prime Minister's Office has also been kept abreast of progress in implementing the recommendations made by the PIU for modernising the Post Office network; there are no plans for publication. We have separately kept Parliament informed of progress.

Post Office Benefit Payments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken to facilitate the distribution to customers by sub-postmasters of material produced by their trade association concerning changes to the payment of benefits and pensions; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The marketing of universal banking services is, like other post office services, a matter for Post Office Ltd, in line with any contractual obligations. It is inappropriate for other organisations or individuals to produce their own marketing materials. Competing marketing materials would run the risk of misleading and worrying customers.

Post Office Group

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the financial position of the Post Office Group.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Royal Mail Holdings published their interim financial statements on 14 November 2002. These showed that in the six months to 29 September 2002 the company made a post-tax loss of #484 million on turnover of just under #4 billion. The company's accumulated capital and reserves stood at #2,127 million.
	The Government believe the necessary changes to remedy this disappointing performance are now under way. These changes include the appointment of new board members, a major restructuring programme under the chairman, Allan Leighton, and making available the #1.8 billion of accumulated reserves, which will back investment required in the mails business and Post Office Ltd.

Post Offices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out the timetable for (a) testing and (b) installing the software systems for operating the new Post Office card accounts.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 December 2002
	These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Post Office will advise about banking services at Post Offices.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd. currently provides information to customers on banking arrangements at Post Office branches.
	The Government and Post Office Ltd. are working together to ensure that frontline staff have all the information they need to answer any questions from customers about banking facilities in Post Office branches.
	Post Office Ltd. has now sent three pieces of communication to all Post Office branches: a leaflet entitled XYour essential guide to your customers' banking options" to explain to sub-postmasters all the options available to customers; a customer child benefit leaflet for issue to customers; and, a Banking Information Pack. I am informed that all have received positive feedback from sub-postmasters.

Post Offices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices are being run by modified sub-postmasters, working on (a) short-term, (b) temporary contracts and (c) long-term contracts; and if she will make a statement;

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 December 2002, Official Report, columns 542–43W, on post offices, when she expects the first proposals for closures to be announced.

Stephen Timms: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that the first proposals for post office closures under the urban reinvention programme went out to public consultation under the Code of Practice in respect of 25 offices on 29 November, followed by closure proposals for a further 32 offices on 16 December.

Post Offices (Benefits)

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the change in revenue of the average Post Office branch as a result of changes to the method of paying benefits from April 2003.

Patricia Hewitt: The migration of benefit payments to ACT will take place over two years from April 2003. There will not be a sudden drop in benefit book related income in April 2003. On changeover of payment arrangements, all customers who wish to do so will be able to access their benefits in cash at a post office counter and sub-postmasters will be remunerated for those transactions. The change in revenue as a result of changes to the method of paying benefits from April 2003 will vary according to the individual circumstances of each office, and the extent to which they develop new revenue streams, including from banking services.
	Post Office Ltd. continues to develop plans for expansion of revenue generating services in the post office network. Banking will be a central part of the Post Office's strategy to move forward. Universal banking services, together with plans for the expansion of network banking, should lead to substantial increases in the range and volume of banking at post offices, tapping into a very much larger customer base than benefit recipients alone.

Post Offices (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Chorley council area post offices will be ready to use post office customer card accounts.

Stephen Timms: Good progress is being made on the implementation of universal banking services, including the card account at the Post Office. The programme is on track to deliver in advance of migration of benefits to ACT in 2003.

Post Offices (GP Services)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans for Government general practitioner services to be provided in post offices.

Stephen Timms: As I announced on 15 October, although the outcome of the evaluation of the Your Guide pilot of post offices as Government General Practitioners showed that a publicly funded national Your Guide service would not provide value for money and we therefore decided not to extend it, the pilot did identify opportunities for individual Government Departments to deliver services through post offices in the future. There is also commercial interest in placing kiosks in retail outlets including post offices. It is expected that a commercial kiosk pilot run by E-Daily will start in Cornwall next year and that this will involve a number of post offices. Officials in my Department are in contact with other departments about the potential for using E-Daily as an information channel and I understand that E-Daily is in direct touch with other departments as well as with the National Federation of Sub Postmasters.

Postal Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the maintenance of universal postal service provision at a uniform price.

Stephen Timms: The universal postal service obligation was laid down in the Postal Services Act 2000 and consists of a service provided at an affordable price determined by a public tariff uniform throughout the United Kingdom. It includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the United Kingdom and a collection each working day from access points, subject to the exceptions to this agreed with Postcomm.
	Under section 3 of the Act, it is the primary duty of the Regulator, Postcomm, to maintain the universal postal service. The Government's commitment to that service is consequently enshrined in the Postal Services Act.

Power Generation (State Aid)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the admissibility of state aid to the power generation industry under EU regulations; and what recent consultations she has had on this issue.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 19 December 2002
	State aid may be paid to the power generation industry, subject to commission approval and consistency with the terms of the EC treaty, under a number of horizontal frameworks and guidelines. These include the community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection and for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty. My ministerial colleagues and I have been in contact with the European Commission and others about the rescue aid recently granted to British Energy, which was approved by the commission on 27 November.

Productivity

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been conducted by her Department into the relationship between expenditure on research and development and productivity.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 17 December 2002
	My Department undertakes some studies into the factors affecting business innovation, including industrial and public research and development and its effects on productivity. Some examples can be found on a DTI economists' Website www.dti.gov.uk/iese. We also keep in close touch with the large amount of academic research on the links between R&D and GDP growth and productivity. Some of this material was summarised in the joint DTI/Treasury./DfES publication Investing in Innovation, pages 11–12. Available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk .

Regional Development Agencies

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what business support is provided by regional development agencies.

Alan Johnson: A key part of the RDAs' role is to ensure there is appropriate business support in their regions to support the regional economic strategies which the RDAs have developed and are implementing, working with regional and local partners closely.
	Information on what the RDAs are doing is available in the regional economic strategies, which can be accessed on the RDAs' website (via www.rdauk.org) and in the RDAs' corporate plans. The corporate plans for 2003–06 will be available in the Libraries of the House in the spring.

Renewable Energy

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which projects involving renewable energy sources have been accepted for generation export since May 2001.

Brian Wilson: The information requested is not available since there is no means of determining whether any of the electricity exported is generated from renewable energy sources.

Retired Mineworkers

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retired mineworkers have received a lump sum payment as compensation for low level payments from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme; and how many were from the Forest of Dean coalfield.

Stephen Timms: To date over #56.9 million has been paid to 42,500 MPS members on the lowest pensions who left British Coal before or shortly after 1975. 57 members with postcodes in the area of the Forest of Dean have been paid.

Retired Mineworkers

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retired mineworkers from the Forest of Dean coalfield have been turned down for the compensatory lump sum payment to the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.

Stephen Timms: The Scheme to help those MPS members on the lowest pensions who left British Coal before or shortly after 1975 does not operate on the basis of applications. MPS members who are identified by DTI's agents, Paymaster, as meeting the Scheme's criteria are automatically sent the appropriate sum. While Paymaster, and my Department, both receive enquiries from MPS members about eligibility, no records are kept of the addresses of those advised they are ineligible.

Retired Mineworkers

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to assist those retired mineworkers from the Forest of Dean coalfield who are not eligible for the lump sum payment as compensation for the Mineworkers Pension Scheme owing to them not fulfilling the criteria of being in the scheme for five years from April 1961

Stephen Timms: The intention of the scheme to help those MPS members on the lowest pensions who left British Coal before or shortly after 1975 is to address the problem of retired mineworkers who receive very low pensions in spite of lengthy service in the industry. For this reason, mineworkers with less than five years contributory service were excluded. For most MPS members, service prior to April 1961 is not included because they opted to take a refund of contributions with respect to that service, although service prior to April 1961 is counted in the cases of those who chose not to exercise that option. We have no plans to revisit these criteria.

Single Mail Delivery

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Post Office's (a) proposal to move to a single mail delivery and (b) decision to cancel late collections from city centre post boxes.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 December 2002
	These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail Group plc and I have therefore asked the chairman to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Small Retail Businesses

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates she has made of the number of people employed in small retail businesses in (a) the UK, (b) Lancashire, (c) the north west and (d) Wales.

Nigel Griffiths: At the start of 2001 there were 1.1 million people employed in small retail businesses in the UK with less than 250 employees.
	Data are available for the north west and Wales at the start of 1999 but only at a greater aggregation that includes wholesale, repairs, retail, hotels and restaurants. There were 361,000 people employed in small businesses classified to these sectors in the north west and 141,000 in Wales.
	County level data are not available.

Solar Panels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have applied for a grant to aid the installation of solar panelling for their domestic electricity; and how much money has been set aside for this purpose.

Brian Wilson: Under the #20 million major demonstration programme, 126 small-scale applications had been received by the end of November 2002. Of these, 25 had been completed, a further 79 had a grant offered, nine were on hold, eight had been withdrawn and five rejected. Total grants (which represent 50 per cent of the total cost of the PV systems) to date is around #860,000.

Solar Panels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals she has to improve the promotion of solar panels.

Brian Wilson: The #20 million first phase of the Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme has already received publicity through newspaper and magazine articles and in items on TV and radio. The Programme Management Contractor is promoting the programme through thousands of flyers and fact sheets, and at seminars, conferences and exhibitions, and a number of PV suppliers and installers are doing their own promotion on the back of the programme. We will continually review the marketing of the programme, particularly to geographical areas and sectors which show a poor level of take-up.

Solar PV Industry

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are being used to decide which large scale project bids under Stream 2 of her Department's solar PV major demonstration programme receive capital grant funding.

Brian Wilson: The criteria for selecting Stream 2 projects are set out in the Guidance Notes for the Application Process and on the programme website www.solarpvgrants.co.uk

Solar PV Industry

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will begin the process of determining whether phase one of the solar PV major demonstration programme has been a success.

Brian Wilson: The first phase of the PV MDP runs for three years and, while progress is constantly being reviewed, we will probably not undertake formal evaluation until the third year.

Telecommunications Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 5 December: what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council in Brussels on 5 December.
	There was a policy debate on the situation in the telecommunications sector in Europe, and the Council adopted conclusions which emphasised the importance of developing content, services and applications for the information society, and the widespread availability and use of broadband networks, using a multi-platform approach as set out in the eEurope 2005 Action Plan. The conclusions also underlined the importance of implementation of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications, and agreed that intervention in the form of state aid was not the way forward. In particular, the Council emphasised the importance of placing the information society and the telecommunications sector high on the agenda of the Spring European Council, and invited the Commission to report on these subjects in due time beforehand and if necessary put forward appropriate proposals.
	There was also adoption of two resolutions: one on the implementation (including the benchmarking) of the eEurope Action Plan 2005; and another on promoting a culture of network and information security. Council conclusions were also adopted on eSkills. There was also an agreement on a general approach, without the need for a vote, towards the MODINIS programme which helps fund the implementation of the eEurope Action Plan 2005, and work on network security. Regarding the dti Department of Trade and Industry Commission's proposal for a Directive on the re-use and commercial exploitation of public sector information, the presidency concluded that a common position is likely to be adopted at the March Council following adoption of an opinion by the European Parliament.
	The Commission also gave a short presentation on its eighth report on the implementation of the current regulatory framework for telecommunications which reiterated the importance of timely, effective and coherent implementation of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications. The Commission also reported progress on its work on open platforms for digital television and 3G mobile, and on electronic identification and authentication systems in e-commerce, on which public hearings are expected in the New Year.
	On the reform of ICANN, the private sector company based in the United States that manages the Internet domain name system, the Commission gave an update on the positive progress towards successful reform achieved at the latest ICANN reform negotiations which took place in Shanghai in October.

TUPE Regulations

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will respond to the consultation on the reform of TUPE Regulations, with particular reference to the treatment of occupational pension rights; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The Green Paper XPensions and the Workplace", published on 17 December 2002, reaffirms that the Government remain committed to the long-standing policy of protection for employees' occupational pension rights on a Xbroadly comparable" basis for public sector transfers, both on first transfer of a service to the private sector and on any subsequent transfers within the private sector. It also seeks further views on the question of providing a degree of explicit legal protection for occupational pension rights on transfer, including in the private sector, in the light of the wide range of views expressed in response to the options put forward in our initial consultation at the end of 2001.
	As regards the other aspects of our proposed TUPE reform, we aim to carry out a further round of public consultation in 2003 on draft revised regulations.

Undersea Cables

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely cost of undersea cables to take power from northern Scotland to southern England, down the west and east coasts; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Department commissioned a high level feasibility study into the possibility of building a subsea cable to transfer electricity generated in Scotland down the west coast to markets in the south. The report, which was published in February and is available on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk, includes capital costings for different systems and costs will be dependent of course on the length of the cable and its capacity. For illustrative purposes, the report concludes that the capital costs of an HVDC link capable of transferring 2000 MW of electricity would range from #790 million for a 200 km cable to #1,700 million for a 700 km cable.
	The report is a useful contribution to the important debate on the best way of transmitting renewable energy generated in Scotland to centres of demand in the south.

Wind Power

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on how the Government plans to reach its aim of 6 per cent. of Britain's electricity to be provided by wind power by 2010.

Brian Wilson: The Government's target for renewable energy is that, by 2010, 10 per cent. of electricity should be supplied from sources eligible for the renewables obligation. While we expect wind to make a substantial contribution to this target, no specific targets have been set in relation to its contribution to the overall 10 per cent. target.

TREASURY

Bank Clearance System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when power will be granted to the Office of Fair Trading to allow it to regulate the bank clearance system; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government is closely monitoring developments in payment systems and will introduce legislation to give the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) new powers to promote effective competition in payment systems as soon as parliamentary time allows. Progress has already been made through, for example, the removal of charges for most cash withdrawals from automated teller machines (XATMs") and reforms to the governance structures of the main UK payment systems. The Government welcome these moves by payment system participants to address the competition issues identified by the Cruickshank report and urges the industry to continue with these reforms.
	To promote its understanding of how payment systems operate, and to help pave the way for its prospective powers, the OFT announced on 27 November that it will conduct an empirical study into recent payment system developments, starting early in 2003.

Productivity Performance Figures

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the productivity performance figures were in each year since 1992 for (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from K. Dunnell to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 7 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about what the productivity performance figures were for each year since 1992 for (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour. I am replying in his absence. (88856)
	The table below shows indices of output per job and output per hour for the UK whole economy for each year from 1992 to 2001 along with the annual growth rates.
	
		UK whole economy productivity indices and growth, 1992 to 2001
		
			  Index (1995 = 100) Annual growth rate (per cent)  
			 Year Output per job Output per hour Output per job Output per hour 
		
		
			 1992 91.0  3.4  
			 1993 94.3 95.4 3.6  
			 1994 98.2 98.5 4.1 3.2 
			 1995 100.0 100.0 1.8 1.5 
			 1996 101.5 101.8 1.5 1.8 
			 1997 103.1 103.3 1.5 1.4 
			 1998 105.0 106.0 1.9 2.6 
			 1999 105.8 107.5 0.8 1.4 
			 2000 107.5 110.6 1.6 2.9 
			 2001 108.6 111.5 1.0 0.8

Central Government Accounts

Norman Lamb: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards publication of the first consolidated Central Government accounts for 2003–04.

John Healey: The Government is working towards publication of the first consolidated Central Government accounts for 2003–04 by producing dry run accounts for 2001–02 and 2002–03. Data in respect of 2001–02 is currently being submitted to the Treasury by departments.

Climate Change Levy

Sue Doughty: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the anticipated receipts are during the current fiscal year from those companies subject to negotiated agreements under climate change levy.

John Healey: No estimate is available of levy receipts the Exchequer anticipates to receive during 2002–03 from those companies covered by negotiated climate change agreements.

Debt Relief

Tony Worthington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on further debt relief additional to that currently available.

John Healey: The UK Government have been at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief issues, and continues to press for the rapid and full implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under the terms of the HIPC initiative bilateral creditors typically provide 90 per cent. debt relief. However, many creditors, including the UK, go further and provide 100 per cent. debt relief to qualifying countries.
	In the provision of interim debt relief at Decision Point to reach a debt-to-exports ratio of 150 per cent. this additional bilateral voluntary debt relief is excluded. Subsequently at Completion Point if this debt ratio is greater than 150 per cent., perhaps due to new borrowing or weaker export prices, the initiative provides the option for further debt relief or 'topping-up'. Moreover, the UK has argued that we should be prepared to be proactive and flexible in providing this additional debt relief at Completion Point.
	But at present this additional bilateral voluntary debt relief is included in the calculation of any 'topping-up' needed, and the net effect is that this additional relief benefits other creditors and not the HI PC. The UK believes that this additional relief should be excluded from the calculation of topping-up at Completion Point, and this would delineate more clearly the burden sharing between all creditors, both bilateral and multilateral, in the HIPC initiative.
	This policy would ensure that this voluntary debt relief over and above HIPC terms would be truly additional. Moreover, it would provide an additional degree of support to vulnerable HIPCs facing the challenges of a global economic slowdown and weaker commodity prices.
	However, even the provision of 100 per cent. debt relief to all low-income countries would still far short of the resources needed to fund the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is our ultimate objective to make a lasting difference in the lives of the world's poorest people by achieving the MDGs, but debt relief is only part of the solution: the real issue is one of total resources. That is why the Chancellor has proposed an International Financing Facility to leverage significant additional resources from developed countries, to help achieve the 2015 MDGs. Increasing our support from $50billion currently to the $100 billion a year needed to meet the MDGs would transform the ability of countries to increase their investment in critical poverty reducing programmes. The UK Government will shortly be publishing a detailed proposal on the International Financing Facility.

Departmental Sickness Absence

Norman Lamb: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been taken to reduce sickness absence in his Department in line with Spending Review 2000 SDA Target E2.1, as described on page 33 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has taken a number of steps to manage the level of sick absence including publishing clear guidance of the responsibilities for staff and line managers, revising procedures for recording sick absence, an increased role for the Welfare Officer, closer involvement of Human Resources, and running a flu vaccination and health screening programmes for Treasury staff.

Departmental Targets

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what formula is being used to measure (a) annual efficiency gains and (b) savings of running costs within his Department in order to meet the targets outlined on page 75 of the HM Treasury departmental report 2002;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on why it has not been possible to measure aggregate Treasury output, as mentioned on page 75 of the HM Treasury departmental report 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury monitors those outputs which can be measured, such as replies to parliamentary questions, letters or other communications with the public, payment performance, and so on. However the Treasury's primary output is policy advice. Such outputs are difficult to measure—and without a measure of overall output it is not possible to measure efficiency.

Departmental Working Hours

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentages of excessive hours worked within his Department were in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Ruth Kelly: This information is available in the Library of the House and was referred to in the answer I gave on 25 February 2002 to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr Cable), Official Report, columns 1045–46.

E-procurement

Norman Lamb: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has purchased an e-procurement system.

Ruth Kelly: H M Treasury is in the process of introducing such a system.

Earnings Statistics

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the ratio was of female to male full-time equivalent earnings for (a) non-manual, (b) manual and (c) all workers in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 7 January 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the ratio between female and male earnings. I am replying in his absence. (88589)
	The attached table gives the ratio of female to male average weekly earnings, for April 2002 based on the annual New Earnings Survey (NES). Monthly data of average weekly earnings are not available.
	
		Ratio of female to male average earnings(22)
		
			  April 2002 
		
		
			 Manual 0.68 
			 Non-manual 0.66 
			 All 0.75 
		
	
	(22) Full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was unaffected by absence
	Source:
	New Earnings Survey

Enterprise Areas

David Willetts: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the new enterprise areas announced in the Pre-Budget Report are; how they were chosen; and if he will make a statement,.

John Healey: Enterprise Areas are designed to improve access to and take-up of a number of Government policy measures focused on tackling the barriers to small business in disadvantaged areas. They are intended to ensure that these policies form a coherent package from the perspective of existing and potential new businesses, so that take-up by businesses in disadvantaged areas is easier, and effectiveness in improving outcomes is increased. In addition to stamp duty exemption on property transfers up to #150,000, and policies designed to tackle market failures and provide better business support, the Government is looking at ways to make the planning regime in Enterprise Areas more flexible.
	The Enterprise Areas are the 2,000 most deprived areas across the UK. They are the same as the areas which benefit from the stamp duty exemption on property transfers up to #150,000. A list can be found at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/so/disadvantaged.htm. A list was also placed in the House of Commons Library on 27 November 2001.
	The areas were selected using the best available data on multiple deprivation in each of the countries of the UK. These were: in England, the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; in Wales, the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; in Scotland, the Scottish Area Deprivation Index 1998; and in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Measures of Deprivation 2001.

External Suppliers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the external suppliers used by his Department for training purposes, as stated on page 37 of the HM Treasury departmental report 2002; and if he will make a statement on the assessment he has made of the value for money delivered by these suppliers and the programmes.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has contracts with various external training providers to deliver the Treasury's Development Programme. The companies used are as follows:
	Accountancy Tuition Centre
	Angel Scott Associates
	Birkbeck College
	CMPS
	London School of Economics
	Parity Training
	Sunley Management Centre
	Trainers at Work
	All contracts with external suppliers are procured on a competitive basis, initially for two years but with the option to extend the contract to a maximum of five years. The provision of centrally managed training means that training is delivered on cost effective terms and can be regularly monitored to ensure that it continues to meet the Treasury's needs.

Film Production (Tax Relief)

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income tax receipts forgone, since 1997, as a result of Her Majesty's Government's policy of making tax relief available for investment in film production; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Film production benefits from a number of tax reliefs that accelerate the deduction of expenditure on British qualifying films. The estimated tax cost of relief provided under Section 48 of the Finance (No.2) Act 1997 is #440 million for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02, over double the amount that would have been available under the previous arrangements. The tax cost of the other reliefs is estimated to be an additional #70 million a year.

Government Borrowing

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 472W on government borrowing, what the evidence is of the effect of government borrowing on wholesale commercial rates.

Ruth Kelly: As the right hon. gentleman will note from the Chief Secretary's previous answer of 12 December, there is no clear-cut evidence regarding the impact of government borrowing on commercial borrowing rates. In particular, the statistical evidence in the economic literature from both time series and cross-sectional studies is inconclusive on this question.

Honours and Dignities

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down by main spending heads HM Treasury's payments towards (a) the Civil List and (b) honours and dignities, as listed in the table on page 35 of the HM Treasury departmental report 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The Queen's Civil List is the funding provided by Parliament to enable the Queen to undertake her duties as Head of State; it meets the central staff costs and running expenses of Her Majesty's official Household. The figure of #8,902,000 for 2001–02 in table 4.4 of the Treasury's departmental report also includes annuities granted by Parliament for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It comprises:
	
		
			  # 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Queen's Civil List 7,900,000 
			   
			 Parliamentary annuities  
			 HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother 643,000 
			 HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 359,000 
		
	
	Parliamentary annuities for other members of the royal family are reimbursed by Her Majesty and are therefore not included in the net payments shown in the departmental report.
	On the breakdown of costs associated with honours and dignities, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his question 89263.

House Price Inflation

Andrew Love: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the estimates he used of house price inflation from (a) major mortgage providers and (b) the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: There are significant concerns about whether currently available measures give adequate estimates of house price inflation. The Land Registry produces the most comprehensive measure, covering all transactions in England and Wales. However, price changes as measured by the Land Registry are affected by changes in the composition (mix) of transactions, as well as pure price changes. Mix- adjustment is desirable as there is significant variation from one period to the next in the characteristics of properties sold size, type eg flat or house, location and other factors that affect price. Figures from the Halifax and Nationwide are mix-adjusted, and also more timely, but only cover properties purchased with mortgages from these providers. These two indicators can show significant differences, highlighting concerns as to how representative they are. The Government is concerned about such discrepancies, and is therefore planning to launch a new official house price measure in the Summer 2003, though it will not cover non-mortgage financed house purchases.

Household Income

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take further steps, in addition to those presented in the pre-Budget report, to reduce the division in household income between England's northern and southern regions.

Ruth Kelly: Measures associated with Public Sector Agreement targets, such as those related to children in low-income households, to regional economic performance, and to the employment rates of disadvantaged areas, are likely to have a positive impact on the regional distribution of household income.

Import Controls

David Lidington: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many staff posts and how much money is being transferred to HM Customs, and to the Department of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs in view of the transfer to HM Customs of responsibility for controls of ports over the import of plant and animal products;
	(2)  what additional (a) manpower and (b) financial provision he is making available to HM Customs and Excise to equip them to carry out their new responsibilities in respect of the import of plant and animal products;
	(3)  what targets he has set for HM Customs and Excise in respect of their new responsibilities to control the import of plant and animal products.

John Healey: The recent government spending review made available #5 million of new money in 2003–04 and #10 million per annum in the subsequent two years to address the issue of illegal imports of plant and animal products.
	Manpower and other financial resources to be made available to Customs in respect of their new responsibilities in this area, together with the nature of targets to be achieved, are still the subject of discussions between Defra, Customs and other relevant Departments and Agencies.

Landfill

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of schemes funded by tax foregone under the landfill levy would be eligible for funding under the terms of the allocation of funds for public spending to encourage sustainable waste management in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

John Healey: The design of the public spending programme will be determined following further work on the management of waste policy.

Landfill

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many environmental projects which are funded by the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and that contribute to achieving the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan, have a completion date beyond March 2003.

John Healey: There are no statistics that detail how many environmental projects, funded by the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, contribute to achieving the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan and have a completion date beyond March 2003. Contributions made by landfill site operators for the period up until 31 March 2003 will still be able to be spent after that date on current projects. A reformed tax credit scheme, worth around #47 million a year, will continue to be available for community environment projects, including those that contribute to biodiversity, after 31 March.

Landfill

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government will make a decision on the criteria or scope of the replacement spending scheme for the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme which runs until March 2003.

John Healey: Decisions on the criteria and scope of the replacement spending scheme for waste related projects will be made by Budget 2003, as the Government are aware of the need to make announcements in good time.
	The general tax credit scheme will continue for local community environmental projects after 31 March 2003, with around the present level of funding available for these projects. The Government are currently considering the detailed administration and the criteria for the scheme and will be announcing any further changes over the coming months.

Life Insurance Companies

Barbara Follett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for changing the rules for taxing life insurance companies.

Dawn Primarolo: On 23 December 2002 the Inland Revenue issued a press notice setting out measures to be included in the Finance Bill 2003 changing some of the rules for taxing life insurance companies. The proposed package of measures will remove certain anomalies and prevent a small number of companies exploiting particular circumstances to pay much less tax than other companies writing similar business. The changes will therefore protect the tax base and ensure a fairer distribution of tax across the industry. Copies of the Press Notice have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and full details have been published on the Inland Revenue's web site.

Non-domicile Tax Laws

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been made of the amount of foreign investment in the UK resulting from non-domicile tax laws.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Paymaster General gave her on 4 December 2002, Official Report, column 840W.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve his targets for responding to Named Day Parliamentary questions.

John Healey: An increasing proportion of Named Day Parliamentary questions was answered on time by the Treasury in each session since PSA targets were introduced in 1998–99, as the table shows:
	
		
			  Percentage answered on time 
		
		
			 1998–99 35.3 
			 1999–2000 59.4 
			 2000–01 63.0 
			 2001–02 73.2 
		
	
	71.1 per cent. of Named Day questions have been answered on the nominated day in the 2002–03 session to date.

Pollution Targets

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the economic measures which he has taken that have as one of their objectives helping the UK meet its Kyoto carbon dioxide emissions targets.

John Healey: holding answer 19 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to previous Budget documentation which detail the taxation policies and the climate change programme which covers other regulatory and spending initiatives that the Government have introduced to the help the UK meet its legally binding commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide under the Kyoto Protocol.
	A list of environmental initiatives is published in both the Budget and pre-Budget reports (in the 2002 PBR and Budget 2002 tables 7.1 and 7.2).

Privately Operated Tolls

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the privately operated tolls which will be subject to VAT from 1st February.

John Healey: The Government is aware of 10 bridges operated by non-public bodies where the tolls will become subject to VAT from 1 February if the bodies are liable to register for VAT. These are Aldwark Bridge, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Dunham Bridge, Rixton and Warburton Bridge, Severn River Crossing, Skye Bridge, Swinford Bridge, Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge, Whitchurch Bridge and Whitney on Wye Bridge.
	As I made clear in my written statement of 19 December, the Government's intention remains that tolls will not increase on account of VAT being levied from 1 February. The Department for Transport and the Scottish Executive are consulting with toll operators on the details, and suitable arrangements will be in place by 1 February.
	In addition to these, tolls levied by private landowners to cross their land will also become subject to VAT. There is no central record maintained of this type of toll.

Privately Operated Tolls

Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Written Ministerial statement of 19 December, on VAT on privately operated toll roads, how he intends to ensure that tolls will not increase on account of VAT being levied from 1st February 2003.

John Healey: As I made clear in my statement, the Government's intention remains that tolls will not increase on account of VAT being levied from 1 February. The Department for Transport and the Scottish Executive are consulting with toll operators on the details, and suitable arrangements will be in place by 1 February.

Privately Operated Tolls

Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the expression 'privately operated' in relation to toll roads in his Written Ministerial Statement of 19th December.

John Healey: The European Court of Justice has ruled that statutory tolls levied by central and local government bodies are outside the scope of VAT, because these bodies do not engage in business activities when performing their statutory functions. The court has also ruled that tolls levied by other bodies, or levied in other circumstances, must be made subject to VAT. The term Xprivately operated" is a generic term, which refers to this second category of tolls.

Privately Operated Tolls

Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Written Ministerial Statement of 19 December, on VAT on privately operated tolls, if the Central London road user charge will bear VAT; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Provided that the Central London road user charging scheme is operated entirely by a public body and under public statute, the charges will not be liable to VAT.

Social Exclusion

Chris Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on the use of public procurement contracts to reduce social exclusion; what plans he has to issue guidance on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury officials have had discussions with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in connection with their report XAchieving Community Benefits through Contracts". As the report acknowledges, the authors' understanding of the issues surrounding the procurement policy and legal framework has been furthered by discussions with, inter alia, officials at HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

Transaction Costs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's progress towards a reduction in transaction costs by 2004.

Ruth Kelly: Good progress is being made towards this target through increased use of the Government Procurement Card and more efficient systems for handling invoices.

Website Relaunch

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the relaunch of the www.euro.gov.uk website in March 2001 cost.

Ruth Kelly: Details of HM Treasury expenditure on business euro preparations were included in the 'Sixth Report on Euro Preparations', published on 18 July 2002. Copies of the report were deposited in the Library of the House.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Minimum Income Guarantee

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he intends to implement targets for take-up of the minimum income guarantee.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no plans to introduce a take up target for the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). However, from October 2003, the MIG will be replaced by pension credit. The Public Service Agreement (PSA) target is to be paying pension credit to at least three million households by 2006.

ASW

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to pay funds into the pension schemes of the ASW workers at Sheerness and Cardiff.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 12 December 2002
	Ministers have met members of the ASW Action Group and their constituency MPs to discuss the Group's concerns about the Cardiff and Sheemess pension schemes. We identified a number of practical ways forward and have written to the hon. Member on a number of detailed technical pension issues on the process of winding up, and has raised the concerns of the Group as appropriate within Government.
	It was also suggested that the scheme's independent trustee might like to contact the Inland Revenue to discuss the option of members being re-introduced into the State Second Pension (formerly SERPS). It may be possible, under the 'deemed buyback' provisions contained in the Pensions Act 1995, for members to have their state scheme rights restored, thus ensuring that they receive an additional pension under the state scheme, in addition to basic state pension.
	The Government recognises that the ASW situation is extremely unfortunate, and that is why it acted quickly to put in place a range of measures through Jobcentre Plus, in conjunction with key partner organisations to help those employees being made redundant. No responsible Government could agree to be the guarantor of private pension savings. It would place huge liabiliites on tax payers some of whom will not have private savings of their own.
	The Government is concerned about schemes that wind up with insufficient assets to cover their liabilities. That is why it has set out proposals aimed at improving protection for scheme members in the pensions Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement', Cm 5677. The Green Paper includes proposals to share out scheme assets more fairly, introduce some form of insurance and strengthen protection for members whose solvent employer chooses to wind up its scheme

Child Support Agency

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency; and how many cases were received in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Murphy, dated December 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from me.
	You ask how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency; and how many cases were received in each of the last five years.
	At the end of November 2002 the Agency's live and assessed case load is 1,088,920.
	The total new intake is:
	
		
			  at 31 March 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 581,815 
			 1999 594,805 
			 2000 369,226 
			 2001 303,797 
			 2002 365,414 
			 to end November 2002 219,103

Community Care Grant

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is the average amount by which community care grant payments have fallen short of the amounts applied for in the last four years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides help with unexpected or occasional costs which vary widely in their nature and importance, to a wide range of client groups. People applying for community care grants can request any items they wish, whether or not they fall within the scope of the scheme. In deciding whether, and for what items, a grant is payable a balance has to be struck between meeting people's needs and the costs of providing that support from available resources.
	The available information is in the table. Figures for the average amount requested refer to all applications, not all of which will be successful.
	
		Community Care Grants
		
			 Year Average amount initially requested (#) Average amount initially awarded (#) 
		
		
			 1998–99 761 343 
			 1999–2000 772 342 
			 2000–01 794 338 
			 2001–02 833 338 
		
	
	Notes:
	For 1998–99,and part of 1999–2000, it was possible to make a dual application for both a budgeting loan and a community care grant. For these years the average amount applied for is based on community care grant applications only, while the average amount initially awarded is for both types of application. Dual applications were phased out from 5 April 1999.
	Source:
	Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Housing Benefit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit is unclaimed so far this financial year; and what impact he expects the implementation of the Supporting People Partnership will have on reducing this figure.

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates of unclaimed Housing Benefit for 19997/2000, the latest financial year for which information is available, are in the report XIncome Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up 1999/2000", a copy of which is in the Library. Estimates for 2000–01 will be published in March 2003. The Supporting People programme will give local authorities a leading role in matching the provision of housing-related support services with local needs so as to give vulnerable people in the community improved choice and flexibility. Under the programme, providers of support services and local authorities will encourage people to claim the Housing Benefit to which they are entitled, if they have not already done so. However, the impact of the programme on benefit take-up will not be measurable in isolation.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the change in the number of occupational pension schemes since the abolition of the right for employers to make membership a condition of employment; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Provision of an occupational pension scheme is a voluntary act by the employer and changes in the numbers of occupational pensions schemes since the abolition of the right to make membership compulsory in 1988 are unlikely to be related to whether membership of any particular scheme is compulsory.
	A significant number of employees are not taking advantage of the occupational pension provision of their employers. The General Household Survey (2001) indicates that less than 70 per cent of employees whose employer provides a pension scheme actually participate in their employer's scheme. As a result, the Pensions Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement' Cm 5677, suggests options for employers to be able to make membership of their occupational pension schemes a condition of employment for new employees. This could be one way of increasing the numbers of employees who are members of, and contributing to, their occupational pension scheme and may have benefits for employers in terms of recruitment and retention of staff.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioner benefit units have been in receipt of income-related benefits in each of the last five years, including the effects of the (a) guarantee and (b) savings elements of the pension credit; and what his estimate is for the proportion in the next five years.

Ian McCartney: I refer to the hon. member to the answer given on 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 292W.

Pensions

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the net present value is of the Government's liability for pensions to be paid to its employees in (a) the public sector as a whole and (b) in the Ministry of Defence; in each case how much of this has been funded; and whether provision has been made for it in the Government's accounts.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government Actuary's Department estimate that the unfunded public service pension scheme liabilities are approximately #380 billion as at 31 March 2002. It is not possible to separate out the liabilities relating to civil servants working for the Ministry of Defence, but the liabilities of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme covering armed forces personnel is #53.5 billion. The liabilities of the major public service schemes are reported in Resource Accounts, and from 2003–04, the liabilities of the smaller schemes will be incorporated into the balance sheets of employers who are mainly non-departmental public bodies.

Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what up-rating assumptions for the pension credit were used when calculating the spending on pensions as a proportion of gross domestic product outlined in the Pre-Budget document, XLong-term Public Finance Report: An Analysis of Fiscal Sustainability".

Ian McCartney: Estimates of pension credit spending, included as part of total state pension spending in HM Treasury's publication, XLong-term Public Finance Report: An Analysis of Fiscal Sustainability", assumed that the savings credit threshold would be up-rated in line with increases to the basic state pension, and the guarantee credit would be up-rated by average earnings. The long-term assumption was that average real earnings would grow in line with productivity of two per cent. a year. This is one of several possible up-rating scenarios.

Stakeholder Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 212W, which companies were registered as stakeholder pension providers on 6 April 2001; and whether any of these have stopped offering stakeholder pensions direct to individuals since then.

Ian McCartney: Information available is in the table.
	
		
			 Companies registered as stakeholder pension providers on 6 April 2001(23) Address Companies since 6 April 2001 notified that they have stopped offering stakeholder pensions direct to individuals(24) 
		
		
			 Abbey National Life Plc Abbey National House, 287 Vincent Street, Glasgow  
			 Allied Dunbar Assurance Plc UK Life Centre, Station Road, Swindon  
			 AXA Sun Life Plc AXA Centre, PO Box 1810, Bristol  
			 St Andrew's Life Assurance Plc PO Box 10,Walton Street, Aylesbury De-registered(25) as a stakeholder pension scheme August 2002 following parent company's (Bank of Scotland) merger with the Halifax 
			 B&CE Insurance Ltd Manor Royal, Crawley  
			 Brittanic Assurance Pic 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham  
			 Canada Life Ltd Canada Life Place, Potters Bar De-registered as a stakeholder pension scheme December 2002 
			 Chamber Pensions Ltd Manning House, 22 Carlisle Place, London Stopped(26) July 2001 
			 Co-operative Insurance Society Miller Street, Manchester  
			 Clerical Medical Investment Group Narrow Plain, Bristol  
			 Deutsche Asset Management Life and Pensions Ltd One Appold Street, London  
			 Eagle Star Life Assurance Company Ltd UK Life Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, Gloucester  
			 Friends Provident Life and Pensions Ltd Pixham End, Dorking, Surrey Stopped January 2002 
			 Halifax Life Ltd Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire  
			 HSBC Life (UK) Ltd Norwich House, Nelson Gate, Commercial Road, Southampton  
			 INVESCO Pensions Ltd INVESCO Park, INVESCO Park Drive, Henley on Thames  
			 Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd Temple Court, 11 Queen Victoria Street, London  
			 Marks and Spencer Life Assurance Ltd Kings Meadow, Chester  
			 Merrill Lynch Pensions Ltd 33 King William Street, London  
			 Nationwide Unit Trust Managers Ltd Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon  
			 National Westminster Life Assurance Ltd PO Box 886, Trinity Quay, Avon Street, Bristol  
			 National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Tiddington Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon  
			 CGNU Life Assurance Ltd 2 Rougier Street, York  
			 NPI Ltd Box 89, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells  
			 Pearl Assurance (Unit Linked Pensions) Ltd Box 89, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells  
			 Police Mutual Assurance Society Ltd Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield  
			 The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd Abbey Gardens, 55 Kings Road, Reading  
			 Royal and Sun Alliance Life and Pensions Ltd St Marks Court, Chart Way, Horsham  
			 Royal Liver Assurance Ltd Royal Liver Building, Pier Head, Liverpool  
			 The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Royal London House, Middleborough Colchester  
			 Royal Scottish Assurance Plc 42 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh  
			 Schroder Pensions Ltd 31 Gresham Street, London  
			 Scottish Amicable Life Plc PO Box 25, Craigforth, Stirling  
			 Scottish Equitable Plc Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh  
			 The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Royal London House, Middleborough, Colchester  
			 Scottish Mutual Assurance Plc Abbey National House, 301 Vincent Street, Glasgow  
			 Scottish Widows Plc 69 Morrison Street, Edinburgh  
			 FPS Stakeholder Trustee Limited Castle House, Park Road, Banstead  
			 The Standard Life Assurance Company Standard Life House, 30 Lothian Road, Edinburgh  
			 Teachers Provident Society Ltd Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth  
			 TUG Stakeholder Trustees Ltd Congress House, Great Russell Street, London  
			 Virgin Money Unit Trust Managers Ltd Discovery House, Whiting Road, Norwich  
			 Wesleyan Assurance Society Colmore Circus, Birmingham  
			 Winterthur Life UK Ltd Winterthur Way, Basingstoke  
		
	
	(23) 1nformation from The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority's (Opra) register of stakeholder pension schemes.
	(24) Whilst registered stakeholder pension providers are required to inform Opra of any restrictions they impose on membership to their scheme, they do not have to inform the Authority of any changes to their marketing or publicity strategies.
	(25) XDe-registered" effectively means leaving the stakeholder pensions market altogether.
	(26) XStopped" means the provider does not accept business from individuals but does offer stakeholder pensions to group clients.
	Note
	James Hay Trustees Ltd is not included in the table above because it did not register until after 6 April 2001 (registered March 2002 and de-registered August 2002).

HEALTH

Child Protection Staff (Assaults)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) social workers and (b) health visitors were assaulted in 2002 in their duties in child protection.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect statistics on violence against social workers centrally. However, it did commission a national task force on violence against social workers that reported early in 2001. The task force made a number of recommendations that were accepted by Government and social care employer organisations.
	The early targets recommended by the task force were for employers to: undertake an audit of their organisation's ability to deal with violence and abuse, do a training needs analysis for their workforce, prepare an action plan and begin to effect planned developments. The longer term target was for local authority employers to reduce incidents of violence and abuse by 25 per cent. by 2005 and the Department is working with employers to set up the means to measure their progress. The Department maintains and updates a website that was set up under the auspices of the task force on violence against social care. It is at www.doh.gov.uk/violenttaskforce. The Department does not collect information on reported number of violent or abusive incidents by groups of staff or by services such as child protection within the national health service. However, in June 2002 the following survey was published: X2000/2001 Reported Violent or Abusive Incidents, Accidents Involving Staff and Sickness Absence in NHS Trusts and Health Authorities in England". This survey states that there were a total of 84,273 reported violent or abusive incidents across all the staff in NHS trusts and health authorities in England in 2000–01. A copy of this report is available in the Library.

XChanging Habits"

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the Audit Commission recommendations from their report Changing Habits, have been adopted by the Government.

Hazel Blears: The recommendations in the Changing Habits report were very much in line with the Government's drugs policy and were therefore accepted. In fact, work on the areas highlighted in the report had been either undertaken prior to the publication of the report or was in the process of being developed.

XValuing People" White Paper

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress made delivering the commitments in the White Paper 'Valuing People', published in March 2001, with particular reference to (a) the Learning Disability and Development Fund, (b) the Implementation Support Fund, (c) the Quality Protects programme, (d) the Schools Access Initiative, (e) the Standards Fund, (f) funds invested in the development of advocacy services for people with learning disabilities, and (g) the development of a national learning disability information centre and helpline.

Jacqui Smith: I reported progress to the House on 1 February, Official Report, column. 535 and on 26 September in my reply to the hon. Member for Daventry, Official Report, column 391W. The Learning Disability Task Force, which monitors and supports implementation of the Valuing People programme, expects to publish its first annual report in January. I will be responding to that report when I publish my own report on learning disability services shortly afterwards. My report will give a full account of progress made with the delivery of Valuing People.
	We continue to make good progress. This was acknowledged by the recognition given to Valuing People in the recent Institute for Public Policy Research/Guardian Public Involvement awards.

Accident and Emergency Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of minor injuries services in A and E departments are nurse-led.

David Lammy: Data on the proportion of minor injuries services in accident and emergency (A and E) departments that are nurse-led is not available centrally.
	The Reforming Emergency Care Strategy, launched in October 2001, introduced a new streaming system so that patients with minor injuries or illness are separated from those with more serious problems. #40 million was invested to recruit 600 additional A and E nurses to help deliver streaming in A and E departments.

Accident and Emergency Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the additional accident and emergency nurses announced by his Department on 23 October 2001 have been recruited; and where they are located.

David Lammy: On 25 October 2001, the Reforming Emergency Care Strategy was announced including #40 million to fund an additional 600 accident and emergency nursing (A&E) posts.
	At 30 November 2002, 743 additional A&E nurses announced on 25 October 2001 had been recruited and 679 of these were in post.
	The location by strategic health authority (StHA) of these additional nurses is shown in the table.
	
		
			Number of these nurses in post by 30 November Number of these nurses appointed but not yet in post by 30 November 
			 DHSC StHA  Whole time equivalent  
		
		
			   England 679.35 63.95 
			 Y21  London 154.9 12 
			 Y22  Midland and Eastern 159.22 14 
			 Y23  North 194.8 30.35 
			 Y24  South 170.43 7.6 
			  
			 Y21 Q04 North West London StHA 45 4 
			 Y21 Q05 North Central London StHA 25 1 
			 Y21 Q06 North East London StHA 35.4 1 
			 Y21 Q07 South East London StHA 32.5 5 
			 Y21 Q08 South West London StHA 17 1 
			 Y22 Q24 Trent StHA 26 5 
			 Y22 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland StHA 14.06 0 
			 Y22 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire StHA 9.8 1 
			 Y22 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country StHA 37 0 
			 Y22 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire StHA 16 0 
			 Y22 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire StHA 10 3 
			 Y22 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire StHA 27.82 5 
			 Y22 Q03 Essex StHA 18.54 0 
			 Y23 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear StHA 15.9 1.5 
			 Y23 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley StHA 19 22.65 
			 Y23 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire StHA 12 0 
			 Y23 Q12 West Yorkshire StHA 33.2 1.2 
			 Y23 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire StHA 26 0 
			 Y23 Q14 Greater Manchester StHA 34.75 0 
			 Y23 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside StHA 40.4 5 
			 Y23 Q23 South Yorkshire StHA 13.55 0 
			 Y24 Q16 Thames Valley StHA 21.5 0 
			 Y24 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight StHA 25.69 2 
			 Y24 Q18 Kent and Medway StHA 13 0 
			 Y24 Q19 Surrey and Sussex StHA 58.29 1.6 
			 Y24 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire StHA 36.85 0 
			 Y24 Q21 South West Peninsula StHA 8.6 1 
			 Y24 Q22 Somerset and Dorset StHA 6.5 3

Accident and Emergency Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used for streaming patients on waiting lists in A&E units.

David Lammy: The Reforming Emergency Care Strategy launched in October 2001, introduced a new streaming system in accident and emergency (A&E) departments so that patients with minor injuries or illness are separated from those with more serious problems. Each stream is seen in parallel by staff dedicated to that stream.
	Streaming patients ensures that patients with minor conditions do not wait disproportionate lengths of time whilst safeguarding immediate treatment for the more seriously ill or injured. #40 million was invested to recruit 600 additional A&E nurses to help deliver streaming in A&E departments.
	It is for clinical decision in individual A&E departments to decide which patients have minor injuries or illnesses that can be treated in a separate dedicated stream.

Accident and Emergency Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the additional Accident and Emergency consultants envisaged in the Government's strategy document have been recruited.

David Lammy: The Reforming Emergency Care Strategy was launched in October 2001. It states that an additional 183 accident and emergency (A&E) consultants will be recruited by 2004, an increase of 40 per cent., as part of the planned expansion of consultant numbers in the NHS Plan.
	As at 31 March 2002, there were 486 consultants in A&E. This represents an increase of 26 per cent. since September 1997.
	Current workforce projections suggest that by March 2004, there may be sufficient trained specialists to increase numbers in A&E by around 190 over a 2,000 baseline. This takes account of expected numbers of additional recruits and numbers leaving due to retirement.

Acute Care

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cleaning contractors have lost their contracts as a result of non-performance in acute hospitals in each of the past three years.

David Lammy: Figures for private sector cleaning contractors who have had their contracts terminated by National Health Service trusts for poor performance in each of the past three years are as follows:
	In 2000—one contract terminated
	In 2001—two contracts terminated
	In 2002—six contracts terminated

Adverse Drug Reactions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse drug reactions have been reported by nurses to the electronic yellow card scheme in each of the last three months.

Hazel Blears: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) launched a new electronic yellow card on the 31 October 2002. To date the MCA and CSM have received four reports of suspected adverse drug reactions submitted by nurses using the electronic yellow card. Three electronic reports were received from nurses during November and one report was received during December, out of a total of 29 electronic reports.

Ambulance Service

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it the policy of the Government that access to the NHS ambulance service should be available to patients travelling to private hospitals when referred by NHS GPs; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 17 December 2002
	National health service ambulance services are available to patients travelling to private hospitals when they are receiving NHS treatment at that hospital or if they are receiving treatment at a private hospital within the trust's normal catchment area.

Ambulance Trusts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which ambulance trusts he and his ministerial colleagues have visited in the past year.

David Lammy: The Ministerial Team has visited the following ambulance trusts in 2002. London Ambulance Trust—21 January 2002, 25 June 2002 and 4 September 2002.
	Greater Manchester Ambulance Services National Health Service Trust—24 April 2002.
	Warwickshire Ambulance Trust—26 September 2002.
	West Country Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust—14 November 2002.

Ambulance Turnaround Times

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ambulance turnaround times were in (a) England, (b) each NHS region and (c) each ambulance trust in each of the last six years.

David Lammy: The information requested is not available centrally.

Ambulance Turnaround Times

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many 999 calls for ambulances received a response within eight minutes in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The latest information available about the proportion of Category A emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times for all ambulance trusts, is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin XAmbulance Services, England 2001–02". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.

Antibiotics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on the growth in resistance of staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics.

Hazel Blears: The Public Health Laboratory Service has a voluntary reporting system for cases of bacteraemia (blood infection). These data are known to be incomplete but are useful for tracking long term trends and the available data on staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias with their susceptibility to methicillin are shown in the table.
	
		Laboratory reports of Staphylococcus aureus blood isolates with methicillin susceptibility England and Wales, 1992–2001.
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Number of S aureus blood isolates resistant to methicillin (MRSA) 104 187 407 797 1,279 2,290 2,853 3,338 4,308 4,904 
			 Percentage(27) resistant to methicillin 2 4 9 14 22 30 34 37 42 42 
			 Number of S aureus blood isolates sensitive to methicillin 4,215 4,539 4,300 4,959 4,556 5,325 5,433 5,590 5,897 6,864 
			 Percentage(27) sensitive to methicillin 98 96 91 86 78 70 66 63 58 58 
			 No information on methicillin susceptibility 730 1,015 1,253 831 1,960 1,763 1,936 1,896 1,898 1,316 
			 Total 5,049 5,741 5,960 6,587 7,795 9,378 10,222 10,824 12,103 13,084 
		
	
	(27) As a percentage of reports with methicillin susceptibility information.
	Note:
	Data last updated 5 June 2002 and subject to change due to late reporting.
	Source:
	PHLS

Antibiotics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on the number of new discoveries of antibiotics each year.

David Lammy: The Medicines Control Agency does not monitor the number of new antibiotic discoveries that are made each year and hence is unable to provide the information requested.

Appointments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which bodies his Department makes appointments; how many members there are (a) in total and (b) in each body; and how many of those appointed are (i) businessmen, (ii) businessmen in SMEs and (iii) businessmen in micro-businesses.

David Lammy: holding answer 16 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 16 December 2002, Official Report,volume. 396, column 607W.

Bed Availability (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency arrangements he has made to enable hospitals in Worcestershire to find sufficient beds in the event of (a) a major influenza epidemic, (b) a serious motorway accident and (c) a terrorist incident; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 December 2002
	All primary care trusts and acute trusts have produced specific plans, which address any rise in activity across local health communities, including that potentially caused by influenza.
	Both motorway and terrorist incidents have been covered in Worcestershire acute hospitals national health service trusts major incident plan. Following the events of 11 September 2001, the deputy Chief Medical Officer issued specific guidance on planning for mass casualty incidents. These plans had to include robust arrangements for mutual aid across health partners. A recent audit of the primary care trust's plan by the Department commended the arrangements in place for mass casualties.

Carers

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent measures have been introduced to support informal care by carers and other groups.

Jacqui Smith: : The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 strengthens the rights of carers to an assessment of their own needs as carers, and also gives local councils more powers to directly support carers. The carers grant for 2003–04 will be increased to #100 million to ensure that more carers are able to receive breaks. One of the major changes to this grant is that the proportion to be spent on carers services will increase from 10 per cent, to 16 per cent. From October 2002, the Department of Work and Pensions has extended the invalid care allowance to carers over 65.

Chefs Initiative

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to catering in acute hospitals resulted from the leading chef initiative; how many recipes developed by leading chefs for the NHS are used in the NHS; and how many hospitals use menus resulting from the leading chefs initiative.

David Lammy: Leading chef dishes promote freshness and taste in hospitals meals and have encouraged the use of higher quality ingredients
	There are currently 201 leading chef dishes available for use in the National Health Service.
	Details regarding which of these dishes are currently in use is not collected.
	The latest information available, at June 2002, shows that 40 per cent, of acute hospitals had included three leading chef dishes in their menus.

Chefs Initiative

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on the leading chefs initiative.

David Lammy: The leading chef dishes promote the use of fresher ingredients and reflect changes in tastes and lifestyles. Exact costs of leading chef dishes vary across the national health service, depending on locality and the methods of production.
	Information on the use of these dishes is not collected but average dish costs are no greater than that for other NHS dishes.

Child Abuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask for an urgent meeting with the Home Office regarding child protection to discuss implications of the Newham Area Child Protection Committee Report on the Ainlee Walker case.

Jacqui Smith: The Government recognise that there is still more to be done to ensure that high standards of child protection are applied in every case. That is why it commissioned XSafeguarding Children", the Joint Chief Inspectors' report on arrangements to safeguard children. It is also why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary set up the statutory Inquiry, chaired by Lord Laming, into the circumstances leading up to, and surrounding, the death of Victoria Climbié. The issues raised by Victoria's case are wide-ranging, in terms of both policy and practice. The recommendations of the Joint Chief Inspectors' report and those of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry will provide us with an authoritative basis for any reforms to child protection that may need to be made, and, if radical reform is necessary, we will implement it. In considering these reports, the Government will also consider all relevant recommendations in the Ainlee Walker/Labonte Serious Case Review report and those arising from any other serious case review reports that may be published in the near future.

Children's Vision

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend entitlement to NHS vouchers to children who are prescribed coloured spectacle lenses without a power for the purpose of enabling them to read.

David Lammy: There is currently limited evidence to suggest that the provision of tinted lenses would provide enduring benefits to a significant number of children with reading difficulties, though some children may benefit. We will, however, continue to consider the issue as evidence becomes available and any decision will be taken in collaboration with the Department for Education and Skills.

Children in Care

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children in care have been listed as missing since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Information about the proportion of children in care listed as missing is shown in the table.
	
		Estimated number of looked after children who went missing from their usual place of residence at any time during the years ending March 1998 to 2001; and the proportion of all children looked after at any time—England
		
			  Number of children missing at any time during the year Percentage of all children looked after at any time during the year 
		
		
			 1997–98 570 0.7 
			 1998–99 550 0.7 
			 1999–2000 530 0.6 
			 2000–01(28) 920 1.1 
		
	
	(28) With effect from 1 April 2000, the definition of missing was changed from being absent for more than seven days to being absent for 24 hours or more.
	Note:
	Table excludes all children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements.

Children in Care

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in local authority voluntary agency care were adopted in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and what percentage these represent of the total in care.

Jacqui Smith: The numbers of children adopted from local authority care in England in years ending 31 March 2000, 2001 and 2002 are shown in the table.
	Information on the number of children adopted from voluntary agency care is not collected centrally. However, the actual figure is likely to be very small, as voluntary adoption agencies only place children voluntarily relinquished by their birth family to their care for the purposes of adoption.
	
		
			  Children adopted from local authority care in England  
			  Number Percentage(29) 
		
		
			 2000 2,700 5 
			 2001 3,100 5 
			 2002 3,400 6 
		
	
	(29) Of all looked after children

Children in Care

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in (a) local authority and (b) voluntary agency care were awaiting foster homes on 31 March in (i) 1979, (ii) 1987, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 2002.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested regarding numbers of children in local authority and voluntary agency care awaiting foster homes on 31 March 1979, 1987, 1997 and 2002 is not held centrally.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists; and what plans he has to meet the society in the near future.

John Hutton: holding answer 17 December 2002
	I met the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists on 1 May 2002.1 have no current plans for a further Ministerial meeting.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the findings of the Feet First II review; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 December 2002
	We have no plans at present to publish the review of 'Feet First', Since the review was undertaken our policy is now focused on patient-led National Health Service services rather than professionally-led guidance. We want to ensure that primary care trusts (PCTs) make service provision decisions on the basis of their local populations' clinical needs. The national service frameworks for older people and diabetes will help PCTs make these decisions and these have been developed with clinical input from chiropodists.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients on average were awaiting an appointment with an NHS chiropodist in England in 1997; and what the figure was at the last date for which figures are available.

John Hutton: holding answer 17 December 2002
	Data are not collected on numbers of patients waiting by the category of chiropody or podiatry.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the provision of chiropody services in the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 December 2002
	We have no current plans to review the provision of National Health Service chiropody services.

CJD

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the link between vCJD, BSE and rogue prions.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD) in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in animals are part of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. The precise nature of the agent responsible for CJD is not fully understood, but the most likely theory points to an abnormal form, known as a prion, of a normal cell protein. According to the protein-only hypothesis, infectious prions are composed mainly if not entirely of the abnormal form of the prion protein, which aggregates in infected tissue.
	Post mortem examination of the brains of CJD patients and BSE animals shows the accumulation of the abnormal protein and there is a massive destruction of the brain, which shows the characteristic spongy appearance.
	Although there is no direct evidence that the BSE prion is infectious to humans, obtaining such evidence could not be justified ethically as this would require humans to be inoculated with BSE agent. A judgment on the link between BSE and vCJD inevitably depends on an assessment of a range of clinical, pathological, epidemiological and laboratory based evidence. There is now convincing evidence that the agent causing BSE is the cause of vCJD, although there remains uncertainty about the future number of cases and the mechanism of transmission of BSE to humans.

Commission for Health Improvement

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical (a) qualifications and (b) background are required in those engaged in clinical governance reviews carried out by the Commission for Health Improvement.

David Lammy: The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) is responsible for improvements in quality across the national health service. CHI assess systems and processes through clinical governance reviews and comment on where and when they think the potential to deliver good care is compromised.
	Teams carrying out clinical governance reviews are multidisciplinary. Each team normally comprises: a doctor, a nurse, an NHS manager, a lay member and another clinical professional who is not a doctor or a nurse, for example a pharmacist or physiotherapist.
	The eligibility criteria for doctor reviewers is,
	Xmust be a registered medical practitioner Consultant/GP ideally with managerial experience at directorate, board or senior partner level".
	The backgrounds of those doctor reviewers are:
	119 from acute hospital trusts
	25 from mental health trusts
	55 from primary care trusts
	four from ambulance trusts

Community Health Councils

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance and assurances have been given to Community Health Council staff relating to the forthcoming abolition of community health councils.

David Lammy: A human resources framework for community health council (CHC) staff is being prepared by the Department jointly with the employing strategic health authorities and the unions. This will be available early in the year. The Chief Nursing Officer has issued regular newsletters to keep CHC staff updated on developments concerning the abolition of CHCs and support for CHC staff.

Community Health Councils

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has set a date for the cessation of community health councils; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We are presently considering the date for abolition of Community Health Councils. An announcement will be made early this year.

Continuous Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all strategic health authorities and local authorities have agreed eligibility criteria for continuous care in line with current guidance.

Jacqui Smith: HSC 2001/015: LAC (2001)18 issued in June 2001, asked health authorities to review their continuing care criteria to ensure that they complied with the judgment made on national health service responsibilities in the Coughlan judgment. In addition, the new strategic health authorities were asked to agree one set of criteria across their boundaries from October 2002. The Department will be monitoring StHAs' progress on this in the New Year.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 16 July, Ref PO1012753, concerning NHS Professionals, the National Framework and anti-competitive practices.

David Lammy: holding answer 26 November 2002
	A reply was sent on 19 December 2002.

Correspondence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 6 August, relating to constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Ryder.

Jacqui Smith: A reply was sent on 23 December 2002.

Correspondence

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter sent to him by Mr.Mark Heyes, of Lathom, Lancashire, relating to Ormskirk hospital.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The Department's Customer Services Centre, correspondence management has no record of receiving this correspondence and has requested a copy of this correspondence.

Delayed Transfers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions his Department has reached concerning its examination of the effect of the Direction on Choice on delayed transfers.

Jacqui Smith: We are at present reviewing the guidance on the Direction on Choice. We intend to consult on the revised guidance in the early months of 2003.

Departmental Christmas Cards

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 December 2002
	1,000 cards have been purchased at a total cost of #1,243.15. More detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards has been made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".
	A sample of the official Christmas card has been placed in the Library.

EDS Hotmail System

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he made of alternative systems prior to the decision to contract EDS to supply a hotmail system to the National Health Service; when the project to procure a hotmail system for the NHS was originally costed, and what the initial estimated cost for the system was; for what purpose the NHS is commissioning a hotmail system; and what estimate he has made of the final cost of the system.

David Lammy: As part of a formal open competitive procurement exercise 30 expressions of interest in the national e-mail service were received; eight of these were invited to submit outline proposals based on the service specification. Five of these responded, from which the final shortlist of three was chosen and their proposals assessed in detail.
	The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the National Health Service national e-mail system was prepared in September 2001.
	The initial total cost to the NHS for the recommended option in the OBC was estimated at #148 million over five years.
	The national e-mail service is a strategic business tool for the NHS and an enabler for many of the electronic data flows which the NHS wish to implement. The service will give NHS staff a single e-mail address that can be securely accessed from within the NHS network as well as from the Internet. This will be particularly useful to NHS staff based in more than one organisation or who require mobile working in the community. Staff will also be able to access their e-mails via portable devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants as well as from home.
	The contract was let for a period of 10 years after negotiation with EDS for a cost of #9 million with an option to terminate after five years.

Electronic Patient Records

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to issue initial applications for tenders to supply the NHS with smart card technology for personal medical records.

David Lammy: The Department has no current plans to invite tenders for smart card technology for personal medical records.
	The Department is considering the role smart card and other technologies will play in allowing patients easier access to their health records in the context of the integrated care records services programme.

Emergency Admissions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of admissions to accident and emergency units have to wait more than four hours for treatment.

David Lammy: The Department collects and publishes information quarterly on total time in accident and emergency and waits for admission to a bed via A&E. The data for the period July-September 2002 were published on 20 December 2002 and are available from www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
	The published data show that between July and September 77 per cent. of patients spent four hours or less in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. In the same period 90 per cent. of patients admitted as emergencies via A&E were found a bed within four hours of a decision to admit.

Emergency Readmissions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the number and (b) the rate of emergency psychiatric readmissions in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The number and rate of emergency psychiatric re-admissions in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		Number of emergency psychiatric re-admissions of patients aged 16–64 within 90 days of discharge from the care of a psychiatric specialist as a percentage of such discharges
		
			  1997–98 total(30) 1998–99 total(30) 1999–2000 total(30) 2000–01 total(30) 2001–02 total(31) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Number of re-admissions within 90 days 16,384 15,461 14,875 14,068 13,306 
			 Total number of discharges 114,946 113,585 114,616 110,312 104,367 
			 Re-admission rate (percentage) 14.3 13.6 13.0 12.8 12.7 
		
	
	Source:
	(30) Common Information Core, now known as the
	(31) Service and Financial Framework Return (SaFFR), end of financial year forecast outturn (FOT) position, apart from 1997–98 where only activity for each quarter was collected, so figures represent the sum of all four quarters.

Feeding Patients (Guidance)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance nursing staff in acute hospitals receive about feeding patients unable to feed themselves; and how many complaints the NHS has received in the past 12 months about patients being left to feed themselves and being unable to do so.

David Lammy: 'The Essence of Care', a tool to promote best practice in eight fundamental aspects of patient care, including food and nutrition, was published by the Department of Health in February 2001. It comprises best practice benchmarks to be used as a tool to help improve the quality of care provided, and includes a standard concerned with assisting patients to eat and drink.
	Data on the number of National Health Service complaints made each year is set out in the Department of Health publication 'Handling complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedures.' Due to the diverse range of issues for which complaints may be made under the NHS complaints procedures, it is not possible to provide information on the number of complaints requested.

Five-a-day Initiative

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it has cost to introduce the five-a-day nutritional logo; and which outside bodies were involved in the creative process.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 December 2002
	The logo is due to be introduced to consumers in Spring 2003. The creative work to develop the logo cost #40,000 and was carried out by Identica.
	The logo has been developed through extensive research and consultation with the food industry, consumers, and health, education and voluntary organisations. This work has also contributed to the development of the five-a-day programme as a whole, to improve awareness of and access to fruit and vegetables. The research and consultation has cost #50,000.

Food Safety

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent advice he has received from the Food Standards Agency on the safety of eating meat from animals which have been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency has advised that there are no health concerns for consumers from eating meat, milk or other produce from animals vaccinated with any of the foot and mouth disease vaccines that are being considered for possible future use in the United Kingdom. The vaccine does not contain live virus and hence is not infectious. All of the other ingredients in the vaccine are commonly used substances that are known to be safe.

Frozen Embryos

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to give women greater rights in respect of the use of their frozen embryos; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 provides that the consent of both the man and woman whose gametes are used to create an embryo through in vitro fertilisation is needed for the storage and use of the embryo. This recognises the interest that both parties have in the embryo. The Government have no plans to change this.

Genetic Lifestyle Tests

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the sale of genetic lifestyle tests by private companies in the UK; and what his policy is on the sale of self-administered osteoporosis testing kits.

Hazel Blears: The Department has published two voluntary codes of practice and guidance for genetic tests being sold directly to the public. These set out broad requirements in areas such as: peer-reviewed evidence of value, accreditation and quality assurance in testing laboratories, consent, confidentiality, sample and information storage, and customer information.
	The Human Genetics Commission is conducting a review of genetic testing services supplied direct to the public and plans to publish its report and recommendations to Ministers early in 2003.
	Anyone concerned about the risk of osteoporosis should seek advice from his or her general practitioner. Those at high risk of developing this disease can be easily identified and offered appropriate treatment. Others can be given simple lifestyle advice about prevention.
	In vitro diagnostic medical devices such as osteoporosis testing kits are regulated by the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVD) Directive (98/79/EC) which has been transposed into United Kingdom law by Medical Devices Regulation (SI2002 No 618).

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the future of the Public Health Laboratory Service;
	(2)  what his policy is on the future of the National Radiological Protection Board.

Hazel Blears: The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) and the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) are both affected by our proposals to create a unified Health Protection Agency (HPA) which will be able to provide more effective support for health protection and health emergency planning.
	Having considered responses to XHealth Protection: A Consultation Document on Creating a Health Protection Agency", published in June 2002, we aim to establish the HPA as a non-departmental public body from 1 April 2004, subject to legislative time being available. At that stage, the agency would take responsibility for most of the functions currently performed by the NRPB.
	As an interim step towards this, we intend to establish a special health authority, also to be called the Health Protection Agency, from 1 April 2003. This special health authority would be responsible for functions under the NHS Act which are to be given to the new agency.
	On these proposals, the NRPB would, on the establishment of the HPA as a non-departmental public body, become a body with responsibilities to the Scottish Executive only. The Scottish Executive is currently consulting on future health protection arrangements in Scotland.
	The PHLS would remain in existence until primary legislation is changed. From 1 April 2003, we intend that it will be responsible for the production of media for microbiology laboratories, following the transfer of its other current functions to the proposed new special health authority and other national health service bodies in England and Wales.
	Copies of letters of 15 November 2002 to the chairs of the NRPB, the PHLS Board and the Microbiological Research Authority, which provide further details, have been placed in the Library.

Herbal Medicines Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what level of fees the Medicines Control Agency will charge under the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive for considering applications for the registration of herbal medicines under the terms of the directive;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the compliance costs in terms of registration charges, documentation, storage costs and analysis for companies seeking a full pharmaceutical licence for a herbal product under the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 966W.

Herbal Medicines Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of how the pharmaceutical production and testing standards for products under the draft Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive will affect the commercial value of the products on the UK market, with special reference to those produced by smaller specialist companies and distributed through specialist retailers.
	(2)  what assessment he has made of how the fees charged by the Medicines Control Agency for considering applications for the registration of herbal products under the terms of the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive will affect the commercial value of the products on the UK market, with particular reference to those produced by smaller specialist companies and distributed through specialist retailers.

Hazel Blears: Existing regulatory arrangements do not allow the public readily to distinguish which unlicensed herbal remedies on the United Kingdom market are made to acceptable standards. There is continuing evidence of an international trade in herbal remedies made to unreliable standards. Currently, the commercial value of herbal remedies made to good quality standards, as well as public health, can be compromised by products made to low standards.
	The requirements of the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products should mean that the public will have access to a wide range of herbal remedies made to assured the requirements of the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products should mean that the public will have access to a wide range of herbal remedies made to assured standards of safety, quality and product information. Many in the herbal sector share our view that this could lead to increased public confidence in herbal medicines, and lead to greater stability for business.
	In continuing detailed discussions with industry about the Directive the Medicines Control Agency will continue to pay close attention to issues of regulatory impact which are of specific concern to small business.

Herbal Medicines Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the proposed Traditional Herbal Products Directive will have on the choice of herbal products available to the consumer.

Hazel Blears: Our expectation is that, subject to the successful outcome of negotiations on the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products, the customer will have access to a wide range of traditional herbal remedies made to assured standards of safety and quality and with systematic information about the safe usage of the product.

Herbal Medicines Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what opportunities exist for new herbal products under the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive;
	(2)  how many routes to the market will be allowed by the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive for herbal remedies other than by obtaining a full pharmaceutical licence.

Hazel Blears: Under the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products, non active ingredients within the traditional herbal remedy, need not have traditional usage. The possibility of permitting the inclusion of nutrients with traditional herbal remedies is currently under consideration in European negotiations on the Directive.
	Where non industrially produced unlicensed herbal remedies are supplied following one to one consultation in accordance with the terms of s12(1) of the Medicines Act 1968 there is no requirement to demonstrate traditional usage of the remedy.

Home Aids

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time and how many people are currently waiting for (a) assessment and (b) delivery and installation of home aids and adaptations by (i) Staffordshire, (ii) Cheshire, (iii) Derbyshire, (iv) Hertfordshire, (v) Lancashire, (vi) Lincolnshire, (vii) Leicestershire, (viii) Shropshire, (ix) Oxfordshire and (x) Northamptonshire social services department.

Jacqui Smith: : Information is not collected centrally on the number of people waiting for assessment or delivery and installation of home aids and adaptations.
	Information was collected for the first time on waiting times on the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return in 2000–01. Data is collected on the time waited from:
	(i) first contact to completed assessment;
	(ii) first contact to first service;
	(iii) first contact to provision or commission of all specified services in the care plan,
	where specified services excludes home aids and adaptations.
	Seven of the authorities listed in the question did not submit any data for these items in 2000–01.
	For the authorities that did provide data on waiting times to first service, no information is available specifically on home aids and adaptations. Table 1 shows the actual length of time from first contact to first service for new clients in England for 2000–01. Data for 2001–02 will be available in February 2003.
	
		Table 1 Actual length of time from first contact to first service for new clients -- England, 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001Rounded numbers
		
			 Actual length of time from first contact to first service 
		
		
			 All client groups 115,000 
			 Contact day or the following day 20,000 
			 More than day following contact day up to 21,000 
			 1 week  
			 More than 1 week up to 2 weeks 15,000 
			 More than 2 weeks up to 6 weeks 28,000 
			 More than 6 weeks up to 12 weeks 14,000 
			 More than 12 weeks up to 6 months 9,400 
			 More than 6 months 7,400 
		
	
	Actual figures for 52 Las
	The information centrally available on delivery times is provided in the table 2.
	
		Table 2—Performance Assessment Framework Indicator D38: -- Percentage of equipment items costing less than 1,000 delivered within 3 weeks in 2001–02
		
			 Local Authority Percentage of items of equipment costing less than #1,000 delivered within 3 weeks 
		
		
			 Cheshire 98 
			 Derbyshire 99 
			 Hertfordshire 83 
			 Lancashire 91 
			 Leicestershire 94 
			 Lincolnshire 89 
			 Northamptonshire 93 
			 Oxfordshire 97 
			 Shropshire 91 
			 Staffordshire 83 
		
	
	The NHS Plan set targets for the integration of social services and health community equipment services and to increase the number of people benefiting from them by fifty per cent, both by 2004. Additionally, on 23 July 2002, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health made a statement to the House concerning services for older people. He announced that by December 2004 all items of community equipment will be delivered within seven working days. This target will also apply to minor adaptations made by community equipment services. New indicators will be introduced to monitor these targets.

Homeless Children

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Treasury to seek new funding directly to meet the support needs of homeless children to ensure that their education is not adversely affected.

Jacqui Smith: The resource requirements of children's social services were considered with the Spending Review 2002 and taken account of in the settlement. Most of the resources available to local authorities are not earmarked and it is for each local authority to decide how much to spend in the light of local priorities on the support needs of homeless children.

Homelessness

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health effects of homelessness; and what progress has been made to improve health care for homeless people following publication of the homelessness directorate's document, XMore than a Roof".

Hazel Blears: The health needs of homeless people have been assessed in various studies, including the Acheson inquiry into inequalities in health and the homelessness directorate's strategy, XMore than a Roof". XMore than a Roof" set out a new approach to tackling homelessness, focused on the problems homeless people face as much as on places where they live. It identified addressing health needs as critical to helping homeless people, as well as in preventing homelessness.
	Homeless people will have benefited particularly from measures to improve access to health care, such as the more than 1,300 personal medical service pilots and 42 national health service walk-in centres which this Government have introduced. They have been identified as a priority for cross-Government action in the XCross-cutting Review on Health Inequalities", published on 20 November 2002.

Horton Hospital (Land Sales)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the increase in land values in Epsom does not prevent the sale of land at Horton Hospital to Rosebery Housing Association and other bodies which are subject to Housing Corporation rules and formulae on the acquisition of land by such associations.

Hazel Blears: In accordance with the planning consent, land at Horton allocated for affordable housing is to be sold to housing associations at 40 per cent. of the open market value, representing a significant discount, and a reduced receipt for reinvestment in the national health service. The Department will comply with this requirement, but has no involvement in the housing association's funding arrangements.

Hospices

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will reimburse (a) in full and (b) in part the costs to the hospice movement of the impact of the increase in contributions to the NHS superannuation scheme;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the impact the increase in the NHS superannuation scheme will have on hospices.

Hazel Blears: Technical changes to the way the national health service pension scheme is funded were included in my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor's pre-Budget report on 27 November 2002. In future, employer contributions will include the cost of indexing scheme benefits but the arrangements will be phased in, with employers charged directly from April 2004.
	The extra employer costs will be offset by additional health service funding. A departmental working group has been set up to develop detailed implementation plans and the position of hospices and other voluntary sector employers, who contribute to the scheme, will be fully considered.

Hospital Cleanliness

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints the NHS has received in the past 12 months about standards of cleanliness in acute hospitals.

David Lammy: Data on the number of National Health Service complaints made each year is set out in the Department of Health publication XHandling complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedures." Due to the diverse range of issues for which complaints may be made under the NHS complaints procedures it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Hospital Infections

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next publish figures on the level of deaths in British hospitals from infections resulting from hospital treatment.

Hazel Blears: There are no centrally held statistics on the number of deaths caused by hospital acquired infections. The recent paper on deaths associated with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) was a research study and not a routine publication.
	The Department does publish data on MRSA bacteraemia for acute National Health Service hospital trusts in England. Results for the first year of this scheme, from April 2001 to March 2002, were published in the Communicable Disease Report Weekly of 20 June 2002 and are available on the Public Health Laboratory Service website at www.phls.co.uk/publications/cdr/PDFfiles/2002/cdr2502.pdf

Legal Disputes

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been required to pay cash to the health authority where a legal case for damages against a health authority has been lost or withdrawn, and which health authorities have been involved, in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: Information on the amount of any money received by health authorities from people required to pay in lost or withdrawn cases of damages is not collected at the required level of detail by the Department.
	Numbers of people involved would not be collected in any of the returns received by the Department.

Licence Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's answer to honourable Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme of 7 November, what mechanisms his Department uses to review the (a) effectiveness and efficiency of social service departments, (b) the adequacy of resource allocation to social service departments and (c) the meeting of local needs by social services, with special reference to community care for the elderly; and what statistics on (i) average assessment times and (ii) waiting lists for home aids and adaptations he collates in England.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has the following monitoring mechanisms in place:
	(a) The overall performance of each council is assessed by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) each year, using a range of evidence from performance indicators, inspections and twice-yearly monitoring information. This assessment incorporates evidence on effectiveness and efficiency. A summary of the performance is published as a performance star rating, ranging from zero to three stars. The most recent star ratings were published on 15 November 2002. A more detailed summary of performance is contained in a performance letter written by the SSI to each council. These are published on theDepartment's website, at www.doh.gov.uk/pssratings/councilsbylist.htm.
	(b) It is the responsibility of each individual council to decide what resources to allocate to social services. Most of local government resources are not earmarked by central government. The exception is ring-fenced grants, which have to be spent in accordance with grant conditions; this is a relatively small proportion and will decrease further in future years.
	(c) As in the answer to (a), the SSI assess the performance of councils, and this includes an assessment of community care services for older people.
	The Department collects the following information:
	(i) Detailed information on the waiting times for clients receiving an assessment for a care package is published in table A7.1 of the referrals, assessments and packages of care (RAP) report for 2000–01. The publication for 2000–01 is available on the Department's website at www.doh.qov.uk/rap.htm. Corresponding data for 2001–02 will be published early in 2003. One performance indicator on waiting times for care packages has been published for 2001–02 in Social Services performance assessment framework indicators for 2001–02, available at www.doh.gov.uk/paf (indicator D43).
	(ii) Information is not centrally collected on waiting lists for home aids and adaptations.

Looked-after Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many looked after children there were in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The number of looked after children for each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		Number of children looked after at 31 March, 1998–2002—England
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1998 53,300 
			 1999 55,500 
			 2000 58,100 
			 2001 58,900 
			 2002 59,700 
		
	
	Note:
	Table excludes children being looked after under any agreed series of short term placements.

Looked-after Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many looked after children were convicted of criminal acts in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Figures identifying the numbers of looked after children who have been looked after for at least a year and have been cautioned or convicted in the year have only been collected since the year 2000. The figures are shown in the table.
	
		Offending by looked after children, 12 months ending 30 September 2000 and 2001: England
		
			 Number 
			  2000 2001 
		
		
			 Number of children looked after for at least 12 months, aged 10 or older at 30 September 25,700 27,000 
			 of which:   
			 Number cautioned or convicted during the year 2,800 2,800

Laming Report

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Lord Laming will publish his report on the Victoria Climbié inquiry.

Jacqui Smith: Lord Laming has handed his report into the death of Victoria Climbié to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Minister for Children and Young People, on 6 January. The report will be published shortly.

Medical Devices

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken with the Medical Devices Agency to improve public confidence in the effectiveness and reliability of self-testing diagnostic medical devices.

David Lammy: The United Kingdom was one of a small number of European Community member states that transposed the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) directive into national law by the required deadline (June 2000). All IVD manufacturers placing products on the European market will be required to meet this legislation by December 2003.
	Public confidence in the reliability and effectiveness of self-testing diagnostic medical devices will be improved when the IVD regulations come fully into force, and evidence is provided by the manufacturers that the results provided are accurate and meaningful.
	In order to learn about concerns that the public might have with medical devices, the Medical Devices Agency introduced, in September 2001, Xon-line" reporting for members of the public for all medical devices, including in vitro diagnostic medical devices.
	In addition, the Department has published two voluntary codes of practice and guidance for genetic tests being sold directly to the public. These set out broad requirements in areas such as peer-reviewed evidence of value, accreditation and quality assurance in testing laboratories, consent, confidentiality, sample and information storage, and customer information.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of treatment with drugs for child and adolescent mental health patients (a) since 1 January and (b) in each of the previous five years.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not collected centrally in the form requested.

Mental Health

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the adequacy of mental health provision in Leeds West; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Leeds West Primary Care Trust (PCT) remains committed to the provision of high quality mental health services, which are easily accessible. A working group, which has representation from the PCT and the voluntary sector, as well as service users, has been formed to help determine the options for closer working and service improvements across the community.
	Secondary care mental health services will also be further enhanced following the opening of a new community unit for older people in 2003.
	The West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority is responsible for overseeing the local modernisation of mental health services in line with the National Service Framework and the NHS Plan. Strategic health authorities will be clarifying through their local delivery plans, to be completed by March 2003, how mental health services should be developed over the next three years to help meet the needs of the local population.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of carers of mental health patients in Shropshire have been given a carer's assessment.

David Lammy: 27 per cent. of carers of mental health patients in the Shropshire Primary Care Trust area have been offered an assessment to date in 2002–03.
	Source:
	Shropshire PCT

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the underlying reasons for the recent change in numbers of prisoners transferred under the Mental Health Act 1999 from prisons to hospitals.

Jacqui Smith: The XStatistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders 2001", published on 28 November 2001, shows that the number of prisoners being transferred to hospital on mental health grounds has reduced in 2000 and 2001, compared to 1999. It is too early to begin to say what the causes might be. The past three years represent a period of considerable change for prison health, and for mental health in particular, with the development of mental health in-reach to prisons from the national health service. These changes need more time to work through before we can assess their effects with any certainty.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is putting in place to ensure that users of mental health services are treated in a respectful manner.

Jacqui Smith: Empowering patients to take an active role in their own care is a key theme in the NHS Plan. We know that people are more likely to have a better outcome from treatment when they understand and agree with their treatment and have been active partners in decision making. Increasing the involvement of service users and carers in all aspects of service development and delivery will help to increase their status and the respect they are afforded by all those involved.
	A number of programmes of work attest to the importance of this. For example the mental health stigma campaign Mind out for mental health and National Institute of Mental Health England's Experts by experience programme.
	Mental health performance indicators for 2002–03 include indicators on patient focus. There is a specific indicator on 'Privacy and dignity', with objectives set to support the elimination of mixed sex accommodation in general wards.
	The mental health patient survey, which is being carried out by the Commission for Health Improvement, is timed to provide data for the performance rating of mental health trusts in 2002–03. It will provide information to trusts to enable them to offer mental health patients better information and more choice.

Ministerial Correspondence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters to him from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) over six months, and (ii) over one year.

David Lammy: holding answer 25 November 2002; pursuant to his answer, 17 December 2002, Official Report, c. 783W
	I regret my previous answer was incorrect. The first sentence should read as follows:
	XAt 11 December there were 38 letters from hon. Members dated before 10 June which had not received a reply and none over a year."

MMR Vaccine

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will lift the limit on the daily quota for vaccine for the single MMR injection.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 December 2002
	Single measles and single mumps vaccines, which are prescribed and administered outside the national childhood immunisation programme, are imported unlicensed medicines. Licensed single rubella vaccine is currently available in the United Kingdom. Unlicensed single rubella vaccine may only be imported and supplied when the licensed vaccine is unavailable. Importers, who must be licensed by the Medicines Control Agency, are required to notify the Agency on each occasion that they intend to import an unlicensed medicine. Notifications may be submitted daily, but the maximum quantity that may be imported per notification is controlled by legislation.

Monitored Dosage Systems

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to keep the use of monitored dosage systems for elderly patients free at the point of demand; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Under their national health service terms of service, pharmacies are not required to provide monitored dosage systems. Primary care trusts can negotiate contracts with pharmacies to pay for the provision of monitored dosage systems where they consider it appropriate to meet the needs of patients locally.

NHS Catering

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the NHS takes to provide varied meal options in hospitals for patients from different ethnic backgrounds.

David Lammy: Each hospital's menu should reflect the needs and preferences of all patients although the range of choice available will depend on the diversity of the local population. The new national health service menu format, launched in May 2001, includes a section for XCultural and Religious Choices" which sets out example menus for halal, vegetarian, kosher and African-Caribbean meals.
	During 2003, NHS Estates will be working with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency to tender for a national contract for supplying the NHS with halal, kosher and other authentic ethnic dishes.

NHS Cleaning Contractors

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS cleaning contractors have lost their contracts in each of the past five years.

Hazel Blears: Figures for private sector cleaning contractors who have had their contracts terminated by national health service trusts for poor performance in each of the last five years are as follows:
	1998—one contract terminated
	1999—one contract terminated
	2000—one contract terminated
	2001—two contracts terminated
	2002—six contracts terminated

NHS Dentistry

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment of NHS dentists.

David Lammy: The number of dentists practising in the general dental service has risen consistently in recent years. Most of these dentists spend most of their time on national health service work. However, access to routine NHS dentistry can be an issue in some parts of the country.
	A number of initiatives have been implemented to address this shortfall. New ways of working and new ways of paying dentists will be explored in the Options for Change field sites, which have been identified by the NHS Modernisation Agency, working closely with the profession. The learning gained from these field sites will be used to inform future changes to NHS dentistry as a whole.
	The report XBetter Opportunities for Women Dentists" reflects changes in the work force and aims to make NHS dentistry a more attractive profession for women.
	Doctors' and Dentists' review body recommendations on increases to gross fees have been implemented in full since 1999.

NHS Dentistry

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are accepting NHS patients in (a) Morecambe, (b) Lancaster and (c) Carnforth.

Jacqui Smith: The information asked for is not collected centrally in the format requested.
	The number of practices taking on new patients in the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust (PCT) was, estimated at August 2002, 29 out of 57 practices or 51 per cent. The average for England is 45 per cent. However, 98 per cent. of the PCTs population was within a five mile (urban) and 10 mile (rural) radius of dentists accepting new patients.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken between the initial advertising of NHS IT contracts with a value of more than #5 million and the final contract award has been in the last month.

Hazel Blears: No national health service information technology contracts with a value of more than #5 million have been awarded in the last month.
	The Department, at the centre, only approves NHS information management and technology business cases that exceed #20 million whole life cost. The remaining cases are dealt with at various intermediate levels in the NHS; previously by regional offices and now strategic health authorities. We do not maintain a central list of cases approved in the NHS.
	Because of their complexity projects of this size normally take over a year to complete.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued basic standards and specifications as part of the NHS IT programme.

Hazel Blears: Information standards for use by the national health service in England are maintained and published by the NHS information authority.
	As part of the implementation programme for NHS information technology currently going forward within the Government's X21st Century IT" strategy, a national specification for the integrated care records service element was published for consultation on 26 July 2002.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what testing has been carried out on the procurement model for the NHS IT programme.

David Lammy: Thee procurement strategy for the national programme for information technology in the National Health Service will be in line with European Union Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) regulations and procedures and also covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
	The purpose of the procurement strategy is to simplify the contracting environment for NHS IT projects by reducing the duplication and delay that can be the result of running numerous local procurement exercises in parallel.
	The national programme and its key deliverables are subject to the Office of Government Commerce Gateway Review process. They will examine the procurement strategy and provide assurance that the selected procurement approach is appropriate for the proposed programme and in line with good practice.
	The national IT programme has also appointed commercial lawyers, DLA and Alien & Overy, to provide legal advice and support.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which IT projects being undertaken by the NHS (a) are running over budget and (b) have been subject to a significant respecification.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not keep central records of local information management and technology projects. Projects are managed by the local National Health Service organisation under the relevant standing financial instructions. There is no general requirement to report cost over-runs or re-specifications to the Department.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the implications of a moratorium in localized IT purchasing by the NHS for the viability of smaller suppliers.

Hazel Blears: There is no moratorium on localised information technology purchasing by the National Health Service.
	The new national programme for IT in the NHS was announced by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, on 12 June 2002. We are planning significant increases in expenditure from April 2003 onwards in the NHS following the recommendations of the Wanless Report. The final details of the new funding in the 2002 Spending Review are still being worked on and an announcement will be made shortly.
	The Department has issued a prior information notice (PIN), a tender notice that is published as part of the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) series. The PIN invites interested parties to respond to fulfilling the role of prime contractors and suppliers in the delivery of the national IT programme.

NHS IT Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the NHS National IT Strategy.

David Lammy: The national programme for information technology in the national health service focuses on the key developments that will make a significant difference to improving the patient experience and the delivery of care and services. There are four key deliverables: electronic appointment booking, an electronic care records service, an electronic prescribing service and an underpinning IT infrastructure with sufficient capacity to support the critical national applications and local systems.
	To support better central direction a ministerial task force has been established under the chairmanship of my noble friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Each strategic health authority has appointed a chief information officer. They have a pivotal role in including costed IT plans in their local delivery plans and ensuring primary care trusts and NHS trusts implement and use the core IT solutions determined at national level.
	Since Richard Granger took up the post of Director General of NHS IT on 7 October there has been a great deal of progress and accelerating the mobilisation of the national programme has been a priority.
	A significant step forward has been the issue of a prior information notice (PIN), a tender notice that is published as part of the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) series. The PIN invites interested parties to respond to fulfilling the role of prime contractors and suppliers in the delivery of the national IT programme.
	The focus in the early part of the year will remain on strengthening programme management, including risk management and progress monitoring, ensuring faster and smarter procurement and providing a clear and meaningful critical path for implementation.

NHS Net

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of (a) GP surgeries and (b) other surgeries were connected to NHS net in each of the last four years.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 December 2002
	Figures held centrally for general practitioner practice connections are shown in the table. These are for centrally funded connections; connections for other GP premises such as part-time surgeries are a matter for local arrangements.
	
		
			 Date Number of practices Percentage 
		
		
			 April 1999 75 0.9 
			 April 2000 4,611 53 
			 April 2001 8,125 93 
			 Currently 8,579 98

NHS Targets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list targets set by his Department in 2002 for the NHS in the last year.

David Lammy: The key publication setting out priorities for the national health service in 2002–03 was the XPlanning and Priorities Framework 2002". A copy is available in the Library.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to written questions refs. 80495 and 80496 tabled by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on 13 November 2002.

Jacqui Smith: I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to these questions. They have been answered today.

Patient Admissions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from (a) ambulance unions and (b) other representatives of ambulance workers about delays in the admission of patients from ambulances into A&E units.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 December 2002, Official Report, column 293W.

Physical Health of Prisoners

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the prison population are (a) smokers and (b) overweight.

Jacqui Smith: A study of the physical health of sentenced male prisoners was undertaken in 1994. It showed that 81 per cent. of sentenced male prisoners smoked and 30 per cent. were overweight. This is still considered to be representative of the current prison population.

Primary Care Trusts

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the progress made by primary care trusts in carrying out their roles; and if he will make a statement;
	(2) whether his Department has carried out research into the effectiveness of primary care trusts in carrying out their roles.

John Hutton: holding answers 19 December 2002
	In April 1999 the Department commissioned the national primary care research and development centre (NPCRDC) at Manchester University and the King's Fund to undertake a longitudinal survey (the Tracker Survey), of a representative sample of primary care groups and trusts over their first three years of development.
	The research has concluded that primary care groups and trusts have continued to build on their early achievements in establishing infrastructures and their capacity to improve services. They have continued to improve access to care, extend the range of services available in primary care settings and raise quality standards. The reports are available on the NPCRDC website at: www.npcrdc.man.ac.uk
	The national primary and care trust development programme (NatPaCT) has also been working with primary care trusts (PCTs) to develop a competency framework as a self-assessment tool to help PCTs assess their organisational competence to deliver the National Health Service agenda. It provides guidance on organisational and personal competencies. The NatPaCT programme and competency framework has been made available to all PCTs and can also be downloaded from the NatPaCT website at: www.natpact.nhs.uk

Primary Care Trusts

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Diabetes National Service Framework Delivery Strategy before primary care trusts plan their expenditure for future years.

David Lammy: We shall be publishing the delivery strategy for the diabetes national service framework in the next few weeks.

Prisons (Mental Health)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners with mental health problems there were awaiting transfer to secure hospitals in each prison in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows data from prisons on numbers of prisoners who were waiting for mental health transfer in each prison on the last day of each calendar year since 2000. Earlier figures collected are either incomplete or cannot be verified, and so are not included here.
	
		
			  As at December  
			 Prison 2001 2000 
		
		
			 Acklington 1 0 
			 Albany 2 4 
			 Altcourse 3 0 
			 Ashreld 0 (32)— 
			 Ashwell 0 0 
			 Askham Grange 0 0 
			 Aylesbury 0 0 
			 Bedford 1 2 
			 Belmarsh 17 6 
			 Birmingham 4 1 
			 Blakenhurst 1 0  
			 Blantyre House 0 0 
			 Blundeston 0 0 
			 Brinsford 2 2 
			 Bristol 2 1 
			 Brixton 4 7 
			 Brockhill 1 0 
			 Buckley Hall 0 0 
			 Bullingdon 0 1 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 0 
			 Camp Hill 0 1 
			 Canterbury 3 0 
			 Cardiff 1 2 
			 Castington 0 0 
			 Channings Wood 0 0 
			 Chelmsford 1 2 
			 Coldingley 0 0 
			 Cookham Wood 0 0 
			 Dartmoor 0 2 
			 Deerbolt 0 0 
			 Doncaster 3 3 
			 Dorchester 0 0 
			 Dover 0 0 
			 Dovegate 0 (32)— 
			 Downview 0 0 
			 Drake Hall 0 0 
			 Durham 1 2 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 2 1 
			 Elmley 1 0 
			 Erlestoke 0 0 
			 Everthorpe 0 0 
			 Exeter 0 15 
			 Featherstone 1 0 
			 Feltham 2 5 
			 Ford 0 0 
			 Forest Bank 0 0 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 
			 Frankland 1 0 
			 Full Sutton 0 0 
			 Garth 0 0 
			 Gartree 4 3 
			 Glen Parva 0 0 
			 Gloucester 0 0 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 0 0 
			 Guys Marsh 1 0 
			 Haslar 0 0 
			 Hatfield 0 0 
			 Haverigg 0 0 
			 Hewell Grange 0 0 
			 Highdown 2 3 
			 Highpoint 0 0 
			 Highpoint North 1 0 
			 Hindley 0 0 
			 Hollesley Bay 0 0 
			 Holloway 1 0 
			 Holme House 0 0 
			 Hull 0 0 
			 Huntercombe 0 0 
			 Kingston 1 1 
			 Kirkham 0 0 
			 Kirklevington 0 0 
			 Lancaster 0 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 0 0 
			 Latchmere House 0 0 
			 Leeds 2 1 
			 Leicester 0 1 
			 Lewes 2 1 
			 Leyhill 0 0 
			 Lincoln 2 1 
			 Lindholme 0 0 
			 Littlehey 0 0 
			 Liverpool 3 0 
			 Long Lartin 2 3 
			 Low Newton 0 1 
			 Lowdham Grange 0 0 
			 Maidstone 1 2 
			 Manchester 2 2 
			 Moorland 0 0 
			 Morton Hall 0 0 
			 Mount, The 0 0 
			 New Hall 4 0 
			 North Sea Camp 0 0 
			 Northallerton 1 0 
			 Norwich 3 2 
			 Nottingham 1 1 
			 Onley 1 0 
			 Parc 2 2 
			 Parkhurst 0 1 
			 Pentonville 2 10 
			 Portland 0 0 
			 Preston 0 0 
			 Ranby 0 0 
			 Reading 0 1 
			 Risley 1 0 
			 Rochester 3 1 
			 Rye Hill 0 0 
			 Send 0 0 
			 Shepton Mallet 0 0 
			 Shrewsbury 0 0 
			 Stafford 0 0 
			 Standford Hill 0 0 
			 Stocken 0 0 
			 Stoke Heath 1 0 
			 Styal 3 3 
			 Sudbury 0 0 
			 Swaleside 3 0 
			 Swansea 1 0 
			 Swinfen Hall 0 0 
			 Thorn Cross 0 0 
			 Usk/Prescoed 0 0 
			 Verne, The 0 0 
			 Wakefield 0 13 
			 Wandsworth 3 4 
			 Wayland 0 0 
			 Wealstun 0 0 
			 Weare 0 0 
			 Wellingborough 0 0 
			 Werrington 0 0 
			 Wetherby 2 0 
			 Whatton 0 0 
			 Whitemoor 1 1 
			 Winchester 2 5 
			 Woodhill 10 0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 3 3 
			 Wolds 0 0 
			 Wymott 0 0 
		
	
	(32) Indicates data not available—new prison

Prisons (Mental Health)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of health professionals working in prisons have received training in mental health issues.

Jacqui Smith: . Mental health services are provided in prisons by both National Health Service providers—mental health in-reach and secondary care—and by healthcare staff employed by prisons. In addition, many prisons employ health professionals with mental health speciality on a contractual or sessional basis to support the work of permanent staff or to provide secondary care advice.
	Of those prison staff providing healthcare in prisons approximately one third of nurses, and 7 per cent. of doctors have formal psychiatric qualifications.
	Within the prison service much training in mental health awareness is being developed and delivered to a range of staff, including training for non-healthcare staff who work with prisoners.

Prisons (Mental Health)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Director General of the Prison Service to discuss mental health provision in the UK Prison Service.

Jacqui Smith: In my capacity as Minister responsible for Prison Health matters, I last met with the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Martin Narey, on 11 September 2001. We discussed a number of issues, including mental health provision for prisoners. Nigel Crisp, chief executive of the National Health Service and permanent secretary of the Department of Health last met with Mr. Narey on 18 September 2002. Again, a variety of issues, including mental health, were discussed.

Public Health (Proposed Committee)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what input his Department has had into the proposed committee of senior officials on public health; and what his policy is on the proposed committee.

Hazel Blears: The senior officers group on health inequalities is a cross-Government Group chaired by officials from Her Majesty's Treasury and includes in its membership officials of my Department. This Group has the Department's full support.

Public Information

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 783W, for what reason accurate information is not currently available for letters from members of the public.

David Lammy: Letters from the public arrive at several different points in the Department of Health and we do not collate the information routinely. We have established a new Customer Services Centre to improve the timeliness of responses to correspondence.

Rampton/Broadmoor

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in increasing the number of in-patient beds at (a) Rampton and (b) Broadmoor prison.

Jacqui Smith: Projects are well under way to deliver beds for the dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) programme at both Broadmoor and Rampton High Security Hospitals. This programme will deliver an additional 70 in-patient beds at both hospitals, to be completed by late 2004. Work is due to commence in January 2003 on an initial 10 bed pilot ward for DSPD patients at Broadmoor, which is expected to open in April 2003.

Runaway Children

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children who ran away from home since 1997 he estimates suffered from (a) physical abuse and (b) mental abuse.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are aware from the social exclusion unit's XYoung Runaways" (2002) report that it is estimated that 77,000 children and young people run away every year, including nearly 20,000 who are under 11. However, the information requested, which relates specifically to children who run away as a direct consequence of either suffering physical abuse or from suffering mental abuse is not collected centrally.

Secure Beds

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses of (a) high secure beds, (b) medium secure beds, (c) low secure beds and (d) long-term secure beds in relation to hospitals.

Jacqui Smith: High secure beds are intended for those who pose a grave and immediate danger to others. The perimeter security of these hospitals has recently been upgraded to be equivalent of that of a category B prison. There are three such hospitals: Rampton, Broadmoor and Ashworth.
	Medium secure beds are designed for those who pose a lesser risk and, although there is significant perimeter security, the emphasis is on security derived from the close attention of the staff of the units.
	Low secure beds are those for people who present a minimal risk, often to themselves. They are not designed to prevent a determined escape, and may consist of no more than a locked door to an otherwise conventional ward.
	Long-term secure beds can be either medium or low secure, and are specifically designed for those who are expected to need to stay in hospital for longer than two years.

Sheltered Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a cost-benefit analysis of care villages and other forms of extra-care or very-sheltered housing.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy on long-term care for older people is to promote quality, choice and independence by the increased use of alternative forms of care provision, such as intensive home care and extra care or sheltered housing.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with colleagues from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is considering commissioning information which will help to evaluate comprehensively the state of the potential and future development of the extra care home sector.

Sight Tests

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have had their sight tested following the extension of eligibility for NHS sight tests to those aged 60 and over.

David Lammy: The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid for in England for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2002.
	Eligibility to NHS sight tests was extended to those aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999.
	
		General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid for by health authorities in England for all patients and patients aged 60 and over
		
			  Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (millions) Total number of sight tests (millions) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 3.3 9.4 
			 2000–01 3.8 9.6 
			 2001–02 4.0 9.8 
		
	
	Information on the number of people having NHS sight tests is not collected centrally. The number of sight tests cannot be equated with the number of people, as some groups are advised to have more than one sight test in a year.

Social Care

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his targets are for the assessment and provision of social care; and what measures are in place to ensure that these targets are met.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's priority targets for social services are set out in the Department of Health's planning and priorities framework for 2003 to 2006, XImprovement, Expansion and Reform: the next three years", principally in the sections on life chances for children in care, mental health and older people. The document sets out priority targets for both health and social services. A copy is available in the Library.
	The priorities for social services and social services performance in general are assessed by the Social Services Inspectorate, taking into account a broad range of performance evidence from performance indicators, inspections and in-year monitoring. Since May 2002 this assessment of performance has been summarised as the social services performance Xstar" rating. There are significant freedoms available for the best performing councils, providing an incentive to improve. Where councils show poor performance and we do not believe the council has the capacity to improve, we have provided assistance in the form of performance action teams. In cases of .serious failure we will not hesitate to use our formal intervention powers.

Social Services (Targets)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list targets set by his Department in 2002 for social services.

Jacqui Smith: In September 2002 the Government set out the priority targets for both social services and health services in the Department of Health's planning priorities framework for 2003 to 2006, XImprovement, Expansion and Reform: the Next 3 Years". This is available in the Library and on the Internet at http://www.doh.qov.uk/planning2003–2006.
	Social services targets are mainly in the sections on life chances for children in care, mental health and older people although social services have a contribution to make in other areas such as health inequalities and drug misuse.

South Worcestershire PCT Deficit

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that measures taken to address the deficit of the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust do not lead to long-term reductions in the capacity of the health economy of the area; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) as part of its review of all options for reducing its financial deficit is looking at services provided to the local population as well as its own administration and management. The PCT is discussing the implications of service changes and modernisation with a wide range of stakeholders and will be discussing progress on the service reviews at its next public board meeting, which takes place on 5 February 2003.
	The Government expect South Worcestershire PCT to meet performance targets and return to financial balance.

Thrombolysis

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to improve the delivery of thrombolysis in acute hospitals since March 2002.

Hazel Blears: Since March 2002, we have taken a number of steps aimed at improving the delivery of thrombolysis, including:
	investment of #10 million from the New Opportunities fund for cardiac monitoring equipment, electro-cardiograph (ECG) machines, on 999 ambulances, to support faster thrombolysis either en route or on arrival at the acute hospital;
	a further #14 million a year central investment over the next three years to complete the programme of providing ECGs for 999 ambulances, to provide thrombolysis training for paramedics and to modernise communications between ambulances and acute hospitals;
	work with the coronary heart disease collaborative to ensure paramedics pre-alert hospitals that heart attack patients are on the way, so that thrombolysis can be started immediately on arrival; and
	a rapid review of best practice with the coronary heart disease collaborative to support better delivery of thrombolysis across the national health service.
	In addition, in October 2002 the National Institute for Clinical Excellence published XGuidance on the use of drugs for early thrombolysis in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction". In November 2002, the Royal College of Physicians published hospital performance data by the myocardial infarction national audit project. This should help hospitals to improve the time they take to provide thrombolysis to patients with a heart attack.

Tinnitus Research Consortium

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in establishing the Tinnitus Research Consortium agreed by the then Minister on 11 July 2000.

David Lammy: There was no such agreement. At the meeting on 11 July 2000 with representatives of the British Tinnitus Association, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr. Hutton), who then had responsibility for sensory disabilities such as tinnitus, was asked for advice about sources of support for tinnitus research. My right hon. Friend suggested that an approach should be made to the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology and which is the main agency through which the Government supports medical research.
	While it is true to say that my right hon. Friend made clear that funds for tinnitus research might be available from the MRC, it would be a mistake to imply that he undertook to secure such funds. The MRC is independent in its funding decisions and does not generally earmark funds for particular topics.
	The MRC has discussed mechanisms of funding with representatives of the British Tinnitus Association, and always welcomes high quality applications for funding medical research, which are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. The MRC is currently funding research projects related to tinnitus, mainly at the MRC Institute for Hearing Research in Nottingham. The MRC is also funding some more basic work on the auditory system, and this would inform any developments in treatments for a range of hearing disorders including tinnitus.

Wheelchairs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 11 December 2002, Official Report, column 401W, on wheelchair services, if he will make a statement on the wheelchair services collaborative programme.

Jacqui Smith: As outlined in the Department's press release of 27 November, forty five centres are now participating in the wheelchair services collaborative, which spans eighteen months. The aim of the collaborative is to improve the overall experience for users and carers, and to work towards minimising delays and maximising efficiency.
	The services participating are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Wheelchair Organisation Organisation 
		
		
			 The Wheelchair Service Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT 
			 Bexhill & Rother Wheelchair Service Bexhill & Rother PCT 
			 The Wirral Wheelchair Assessment Centre Birkenhead & Wallasey PCT 
			 Wheelchair Service Brent PCT 
			 Bromley Wheelchair Service Bromley PCT 
			 South East Staffs Wheelchair Service Burntwood, Litchfield & Tamworth PCT, SE Staffs PCT 
			 Chantry Wheelchair Services Central Suffolk PCT 
			 Southern Derbyshire Wheelchair Service Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT 
			 Wheelchair Services Doncaster East PCT 
			 South Durham Wheelchair Service Durham and Chester Le-Street PCT 
			 Enfield Wheelchair Service Enfield PCT 
			 The Wheelchair Centre Hambleton and Richmondshire pct 
			 Haringey Wheelchair Service Haringey Teaching PCT 
			 Hillingdon Wheelchair Service Hillingdon PCT 
			 Occupational Therapy & Wheelchair Services Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust 
			 The Wheelchair Service King's Lynn and Wisebech Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Leeds Wheelchair Service Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust 
			 North Essex Wheelchair services Maldon and South Chelmsford PCT 
			 Wheelchair Services Milton Keynes PCT 
			 Disablement Services Centre North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 North Cumbria Wheelchair Service North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Wheelchair Centre North Lincolnshire Primary Care NHS Trust 
			 NW Surrey Wheelchair Service North Surrey PCT 
			 Harrow Wheelchair Service North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair Services Northamptonshire Heartlands PLC 
			 Oxford Centre for Enablement Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 
			 Wheelchair Assessment Centre, Thameside General Hospital Oldham PCT/Thameside and Glossop 
			 Wheelchair Service & Community Equipment Service Redditch and Bromsgrove NHS PCT 
			 Exeter Mobility Centre Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS 
			 Wheelchair Service Sedgefield PCT 
			 Birmingham Wheelchair Service South Birmingham PCT 
			 Sussex Rehabilitation Centre South Downs NHS Trust 
			 South Tyneside (Healthcare NHS Trust) Wheelchair Services South Tyneside PCT 
			 South Warwickshire PCT South Warwickshire PCT 
			 Wheelchair Services Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 
			 Shropshire Wheelchair Service Telford and Wrekin NHS PCT 
			 Liverpool Wheelchair Service The Royal Liverpool and NHS Broadgreen University Hospitals 
			 Tower Hamlets Wheelchair Service Tower Hamlets NHS PCT 
			 Wheelchair Service at the Rehabilitation Centre United Lincoln Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Leicestershire Wheelchair Service University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust 
			 Wheelchair Services Walsall PCT 
			 Wheelchair Service Wandsworth NHS PCT 
			 West Dorset Wheelchair Service West Dorset PCT 
			 The Wheelchair Service West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust (Medway PCT, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT)